National Liberation Day speech template (South Korea)
Published 10 October 2026 · Date checked on 5 October 2026 · Written by the Cue Card Converter team at EventProgrammer, event production professionals
National Liberation Day, Gwangbokjeol, is a national holiday in South Korea on 15 August. It celebrates liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945, at the end of the Second World War, and also marks the establishment of the Government of the Republic of Korea on the same date in 1948. Gwangbok means 'restoration of light'. A national ceremony is held, the Taegukgi is flown across the country, and the Bosingak bell in Seoul is rung in celebration.
- Date
- August 15
- Next dates
- Sunday 15 August 2027
Tuesday 15 August 2028
Wednesday 15 August 2029 - Country
- South Korea
- Tone
- Celebratory
- Typical events
- National and city ceremonies, Korean embassies and community associations abroad, Korean schools, company gatherings and concerts held on or around 15 August.
- Length
- 175 spoken words · about 1.5 min at 130 words a minute · 4 cue cards
The National Liberation Day speech, ready as cue cards
A complete host script in 4 cards, about 1.5 minutes of speaking. Open it in the editor to add your names, change the card size or highlights, and print.
- WELCOME TO A JOYFUL DAY1 / 4
Good evening, and welcome. I'm {Your name}, and on behalf of {Organisation} it's a joy to celebrate Gwangbokjeol with you. The word means the restoration of light, and looking around a room full of friends and families tonight, that feels exactly right. - LIGHT RESTORED2 / 4
In 1945, at the end of the Second World War, Korea was freed from colonial rule. Three years later, on the same date in 1948, the Government of the Republic of Korea was established. So today we celebrate two milestones: freedom regained, and the establishment of a government. - THE BELL RINGS3 / 4
In Seoul today, the Bosingak bell rings out for Liberation Day. We have a bell of our own, and I invite {Guest of honour} to ring it for all of us. When it has sounded, please stand for the national anthem, Aegukga.
[BELL RINGS – NATIONAL ANTHEM]
Thank you. Please be seated. - TO HOPE AND FREEDOM4 / 4
Please raise your glass. To those who never gave up hope, to the generations who rebuilt the country, and to everyone celebrating here tonight. Geonbae. Enjoy the music, wave your flags, and happy Liberation Day to you all.
Red is used only for names, titles, organisations, dates, times and section headings. Replace the words in {curly brackets} with your own details; lines in [SQUARE BRACKETS] are stage directions and are not read aloud.
How to adapt it
- Fly the Taegukgi at full height and hand out small flags; waving them is a familiar sight on this day. Print the first verse of Aegukga in Korean and English.
- When you mention 1948, use the official wording, the establishment of the Government of the Republic of Korea. Other descriptions of that year are debated in Korea, so avoid them.
- The same date is marked in Japan as a day of mourning for the war dead. At international events, keep the script joyful and focused on freedom and hope, without blame or references to current diplomatic issues.
- Geonbae is the Korean word for 'cheers'. Offer soft drinks as well as alcohol, and if most guests are Korean, consider inviting the most senior guest to lead the toast.
Print and rehearse
“Edit and print these cards” opens the script in the free cue card maker, where you can choose A5, 4 × 6 or 3 × 5 inch cards, print several per sheet with cut lines or export PDF, PowerPoint and Word, and rehearse full screen in practice mode. To write your own programme around it, see how to write an MC script and the run of show template.
Sources
Date and background checked on 5 October 2026 against: 우리나라 국가상징> 국경일/기념일. Customs vary between organisations and regions; always follow the official programme of your event.
More South Korea speech templates
- March 1st Independence Movement Day · March 1
- National Foundation Day · October 3