Have you ever heard of Korea’s ‘Sunkukseonyeol Day’? This day (November 17th) is a legal anniversary established to convey the spirit of independence and sacrifice of patriotic martyrs dedicated to restoring national sovereignty to future generations and commemorating the spirit and honor of patriotic martyrs.
On November 21, 1939, during Korea’s Provisional Government’s 31st Provisional Council’s general meeting (considered the center of the Korean independence movement) ‘Sunkukseonyeol Day’ was established as a joint anniversary for patriotic martyrs.
Later, this event was held under the supervision of the Provisional Government until Korea’s August 15th liberation and was included in Memorial Day ceremonies by private organizations beginning in 1946, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs from 1962 to 1969, and again from 1970 to 1996.
By May 1997, through the long-cherished wishes of the bereaved families of independence fighters, it was restored as a government anniversary and has been held as a government-sponsored event since the 17th of November of that year.
Sunkukseonyeol Day anniversary events are typically organized by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and are usually held within Seoul’s Sejong Center for the Performing Arts with an audience of about 2,000 that include surviving patriots, martyrs, bereaved families of patriots, key figures from the three-part divisional government institutions, and many others such as civil servants, and students.
The ceremony typically is progressed through an opening ceremony, a salute of the national flag, singing of the national anthem, silent prayer for patriotic martyrs and patriots, a reading of a progress report of patriotic martyrs, a commemorative speech, a recitation of commemorative poems, a singing performance to commemorate patriotic martyrs, and a closing ceremony.
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