Seventy photographs that describe historical moments between Korean independence in 1945 and the establishment of the Korean government in 1948 have now been disclosed to the public.
In celebration of the 70th anniversary of Korean independence, 70 photos held by the U.S.-based National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) have been unveiled at the homepage of the National Institute of Korean History (www.history.go.kr).
The photographs show people taking to the streets and waving high the Taegeukgi, the national flag, to celebrate independence on Aug. 15, 1945. There are also photos of people cheering the Allied Forces as they march through Seoul, the lowering of the Japanese flag at the colonial government building, and of a large crowd gathered to commemorate the establishment of the Korean government on Aug. 15, 1948.
People wave the Taegeukgi and the Stars and Stripes on Sept. 9, 1945, to celebrate Korean independence.
Seoul citizens cheer as Allied Forces march through Seoul in September 1945.
Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces 70 years ago and the entire Korean nation was able to then enjoy the happiness of independence. After longing for independence for so many years, people took to the street waving the Korean national flag. When the Allied Forces landed in Korea in September 1945, people hung the national flags of the Allied Forces nations and placards along major streets that said, “Korea Welcomes You Allied Forces.”
Koreans who had left their country to seek employment, or those who were forced to work in Japan and other places, started returning to Korea. In August 1945, 2.2 million ethnic Koreans residing in Japan flocked to port cities to board ships returning to Korea.
The Japanese flag is lowered in front of the colonial government building on Sept. 9, 1945.
A national election took place in South Korea under the supervision of U.N. representatives on May 10, 1948. A total of 198 congressmen were elected to form the Constitutional Assembly. The establishment of the Korean government was announced on Aug. 15, 1948, and a large crowd gathered in front of the colonial government building and waved the national flag to celebrate the event. All these events can be seen through the black and white photographs on display at the homepage of the National Institute of Korean History.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos courtesy of the National Institute of Korean History
jun2@korea.kr
A Japanese soldier is searched before boarding a ship to return to Japan.
People who had left Korea disembark in Busan as they return home from Japan in October 1945.
The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra performs at a nationwide middle school competition in May 1947 at Gyeongbokgung Palace, located behind the colonial administration building.
A citizen votes in modern Korea’s first election on May 10, 1948.
A crowd gathers in Seoul to commemorate the establishment of the Korean government on Aug. 15, 1948.
