251 Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (Hyeonjeo-dong)
To mark the 81st anniversary of Korea's liberation, the 2026 Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival will be held for two days from Saturday, August 15 to Sunday, August 16, in the area surrounding the Seodaemun Prison History Museum and Independence Park. Under the theme "Seodaemun-gu United by the Light of Liberation," this representative historical and cultural festival honors the sacrificial spirit of patriotic martyrs and shares the joy of liberation with citizens through various celebratory cultural events. The commemorative ceremony and celebratory performances on August 15 are scheduled to feature meaningful congratulatory and commemorative speeches, as well as Taekwondo demonstrations, popera, and performances by singers Son Seung-yeon and Park Jung-hyun. In addition, numerous side events are prepared, including an Independence Cheers drawing contest, the Path of Liberation Challenge, a stamp rally, and guided tours of the history museum, offering programs that allow people of all ages to enjoy both education and culture.
1. Main Program: Commemoration Ceremony and Celebration Performance - August 15, 2026 (Sat) 19:00 2. Supplementary Programs: Performance Plaza, Prison Classical Performance, Outdoor Special Exhibition 3. Citizen Participation Programs: Guided Tour of the History Museum, Stamp Rally, Independence Reading Challenge, Path to Liberation Challenge, Independence Cheers Drawing Contest
Hours
10:00~21:00
Admission
Free
Organizer
Seodaemun-gu
Phone
02-330-1410

Painters
Nov 1 β Dec 31
3, Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (Jeongdong)

Seoul Royal Palace Changing of the Guard Ceremony
Jan 1 β Dec 31
In front of Daehanmun Gate at Deoksugung Palace

Gugak Performance Jinyeon
Jan 1 β Dec 31
Jinyeon

Traditional cultural events such as the Namsan Beacon Ceremony
Jan 1 β Dec 31
Namsan Beacon Tower and Bosingak