National Liberation Day of Korea (Gwangbokjeol)2026 · Date · History
Korea.net identifies 15 August as National Liberation Day (Gwangbokjeol) and describes it as an annual national commemoration.
About National Liberation Day of Korea (Gwangbokjeol)
National Liberation Day of Korea, or Gwangbokjeol, is observed on August 15 in the Republic of Korea.
Republic of Korea law lists National Liberation Day among the national holidays, and current public-holiday law includes it among public holidays.
Why National Liberation Day of Korea (Gwangbokjeol) matters
The day commemorates Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945.
For this guide, the Republic of Korea legal and observance record is treated separately from observances or legal systems in other jurisdictions.
History of National Liberation Day of Korea (Gwangbokjeol)
Korea.net describes August 15, 1945 as the liberation date commemorated by Gwangbokjeol.
The Act on National Holidays, originally Act No. 53 of October 1, 1949, lists National Liberation Day on August 15.
The Act on Public Holidays, Act No. 18291 of July 7, 2021, includes National Liberation Day among public holidays.
The reviewed sources do not separately establish the first recurring observance after liberation.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Institutional establishment
Act on National Holidays, Act No. 53
Included National Liberation Day among public holidays under the current public-holiday framework.
Republic of Korea · Act on Public Holidays, Act No. 18291
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
6 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
National Liberation Day of Korea, Gwangbokjeol, National Liberation Day
How to Observe National Liberation Day of Korea (Gwangbokjeol)
Use August 15 for the Republic of Korea record.
Keep the 1945 liberation event separate from the later statutory holiday framework.
Describe current public-holiday status from the current law rather than assuming it from the observance name.
Keep historical and political wording factual and jurisdiction-specific.
National Liberation Day of Korea (Gwangbokjeol) Facts
National Liberation Day is on August 15.
The Act on National Holidays lists it as a national holiday.
The Act on Public Holidays includes it among public holidays.
The date commemorates liberation in 1945.
The reviewed sources do not establish a separate first recurring observance date.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Korean Legislation Research Institute — Act on National Holidays (opens in a new tab)
Korean Legislation Research Institute — Act on Public Holidays (opens in a new tab)
Korea.net — Liberation Day 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Official Government
Korea.net — National Liberation Day background (opens in a new tab)
Official Government
Republic of Korea Embassy in Ireland — holiday schedule (opens in a new tab)
Official Diplomatic Calendar
Republic of Korea Embassy in Singapore — Korean public holidays (opens in a new tab)
Official Diplomatic Calendar
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Liberation Day of Korea (Gwangbokjeol)?
15 August annually The documented recurrence rule is: 15 August.
Does National Liberation Day of Korea (Gwangbokjeol) fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Liberation Day of Korea (Gwangbokjeol) an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Republic of Korea / national holiday. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Liberation Day of Korea (Gwangbokjeol)?
The documented basis is: Korea.net identifies 15 August as National Liberation Day (Gwangbokjeol) and describes it as an annual national commemoration.. Supporting evidence includes Korea.net — Liberation Day 2026. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is National Liberation Day of Korea (Gwangbokjeol) international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to South Korea. Its fuller verified scope is: Republic of Korea / national holiday.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-08.
When is Gwangbokjeol?
It is observed on August 15.
Is National Liberation Day a public holiday in the Republic of Korea?
Yes. Current public-holiday law includes National Liberation Day among public holidays.
What does the date commemorate?
It commemorates Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945.
Other observances on August 15
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