Hanam City, led by Mayor Lee Hyun-jae, commemorated the 81st National Liberation Day by honoring the sacrifices of independence patriots and sharing the historical significance of Korea’s liberation with local residents. On August 15, the city held a commemorative ceremony at the main auditorium of the annex building of Hanam City Hall, attended by bereaved families of independence patriots, representatives of veterans organizations, and citizens. The city also reaffirmed its commitment to preparing for Hanam’s future based on the values of freedom and independence.
 [The Korean Today] Hanam Mayor Lee Hyun-jae delivers a commemorative address marking the 81st National Liberation Day © Reporter Chang-Hee Baek |
The ceremony began with a performance by Gugak Space Seoi. It was followed by the national ceremony, a commemorative address by Lee Young-jae, head of the Hanam branch of the Liberation Association, awards honoring contributors, a celebratory speech by Mayor Lee Hyun-jae, a gala performance from the musical “Kim Maria,” the singing of the Liberation Day song, and three cheers of “Manse.” The program was designed to highlight the achievements of independence patriots and provide citizens with an opportunity to reflect together on the meaning of national liberation.
In his commemorative address, Mayor Lee paid tribute to independence patriots from Hanam, including Kim Hong-ryeol, Kim Gyo-young, Lee Dae-heon, Gu Hui-seo, and Gu Seung-hoe, as well as all those who devoted themselves to Korea’s independence. He said, “Just as the Republic of Korea has become a global leader as a technological powerhouse centered on semiconductors and AI, as well as through K-Culture, Hanam City will also move toward an even greater future.” He then presented the city’s “Five Major Municipal Visions,” covering culture, the economy, transportation, education and welfare, and balanced regional development.
In the area of culture and tourism, the city presented plans to develop “K-Star World” in the Misa Island area by combining a national garden with a K-Culture complex. Hanam City aims to proceed with the project as planned, establish a tourism infrastructure capable of attracting tens of millions of visitors annually, create more jobs for young people, and develop Hanam into one of Asia’s leading cultural and tourism cities.
 [The Korean Today] Bereaved families of independence patriots, veterans organization representatives, and citizens holding Taegeukgi, the national flag of Korea © Reporter Chang-Hee Baek |
The vision also includes projects aimed at strengthening the city’s self-sustaining economic foundation. Hanam plans to accelerate the Camp Colbern development project, which had remained stalled for nearly 20 years, and establish the Gyosan AI Innovation Cluster. The city also intends to expand major infrastructure through projects such as the construction of Yonsei Hanam Hospital and the attraction of a five-star hotel. Its goal is to attract investments worth approximately KRW 10 trillion by 2030 and create a strong economic city with high-quality jobs.
In the transportation sector, in addition to the currently operating Subway Line 5, the city plans to push forward extensions or construction related to Subway Lines 3 and 9, GTX-D via Hwangsan, and the Hanam extension of the Wirye-Sinsa Line. Hanam City expects that the realization of its proposed “Five Rail Lines Era” will strengthen the city’s role as a major transportation hub in eastern Seoul metropolitan region and improve the convenience of long-distance travel for residents.
Education and welfare policies include annual increases in honorary allowances for veterans and transportation subsidies for senior citizens, expansion of free influenza vaccination eligibility, and support for dementia treatment costs. The city is also promoting the establishment of a Hanam Office of Education, while continuing preparations for a children’s English-specialized library scheduled to open in October 2026 and a children’s center expected to be completed in 2027. These projects are intended to improve conditions for child-rearing and education.
The city’s balanced regional development plan places emphasis on expanding transportation networks linking the old downtown area with Misa, Gamil, Wirye, and Gyosan new towns. Hanam also plans to improve living conditions in older urban districts so that residents can experience better mobility and tangible improvements in their communities regardless of where they live. Presenting these municipal directions during the Liberation Day ceremony is seen as an effort not only to honor the independence spirit of the nation’s forebears, but also to connect that spirit with the daily lives of citizens and the city’s mid- to long-term development.
 [The Korean Today] Hanam Mayor Lee Hyun-jae visits the family of an independence patriot © Reporter Chang-Hee Baek |
During the commemorative performance, the performance team “Depas” presented major scenes from the musical “Kim Maria” in a gala format. The performance dynamically portrayed the nationwide independence movement that spread following the February 8 Declaration of Independence in 1919, allowing attendees to reflect on the development and significance of Korea’s independence movement at the time.
Mayor Lee said, “We will open the future of Hanam through the ‘power of high culture’ that Kim Gu emphasized in his essay ‘My Wish.’ Based on the freedom that our forebears regained through their blood and sweat, we will continue to move forward without wavering, together with our citizens, toward becoming the best city in the Seoul metropolitan region and a city that leads the future.”
On August 14, the day before Liberation Day, Mayor Lee visited two families of independence patriots in the Hanam area to express gratitude and respect and to listen to their difficulties and suggestions. Hanam City plans to continue projects that remember the sacrifice and dedication of independence patriots and their families and to further strengthen support and recognition for them.
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