happy Liberation Day

As happens every year on August 15, Korea celebrates the day it was liberated from Japan at the end of World War 2. It's called Gwangbok-jeol in Korean (광복절, 光復節), and it roughly translates as "Light-restoration Day." That seems appropriate if we think of the Japanese occupation as a dark period in Korean history. Of course, the larger powers divided the peninsula up in September 1945, and the world got to watch a massive experiment on which economic system had better long-term benefits: central planning versus more-or-less free-market capitalism (that liberalized and Westernized over the years as South Korea moved beyond dictatorships). For the first decade or so, though, North Korea was actually doing better than South Korea. Little did they know what was to come.

On Liberation Day, Korean politicians almost never thank the US or the United Nations for freeing the country. Acknowledging others' roles in helping Korea is probably seen as somehow shameful. The impression one gets from politicians these days is that Korea mysteriously, miraculously freed itself. Passive-voice locutions like "has been liberated" and various circumlocutions, by eliminating the subject, i.e., the actual actors, contribute to this impression. I wonder what South Koreans are taught in school about how the Japanese occupation ended at the end of World War 2. Were Koreans' roles in liberation exaggerated while US/Allied roles were minimized? It's not a topic I've ever discussed with anyone, which may be for the better since I'm fairly ignorant of the details myself.

I briefly forgot that today was August 15. A few days before, when I'd created the paid Substack posts that were released today, just a moment ago, I'd actually written a long paragraph noting how various cultures celebrate today: for Catholics, August 15 is Assumption Day. For Americans, it's Lemon Meringue Pie Day. For Indians, today is also Liberation Day. And despite all of that, in my senility, I forgot that I wouldn't be able to go to the bank today until commenter Paul reminded me that today was a national holiday in Korea.

Senility: it's not just for the over-60 crowd!

Part of an unofficial translation of President Lee Jae-myung's speech for today. Note how it skirts around the issue of US/Allied involvement:

Eighty years ago today, we reclaimed the light that had been wrested from us. The light that once again touched our hearts and brightly illuminated every corner of the Korean Peninsula was not freely obtained. It was won through the dedication and sacrifices of countless individuals who risked their lives with an indomitable will for the sake of national liberation and a fervent desire to restore our sovereignty.

Liberation Day is not simply the day we regained our independence. It is also the day we reclaimed the freedom and the right to determine our own future and choose the course of our lives.

[ ... ]

As the ancient saying goes, “When drinking water, remember its source.” It behooves us, as a nation enjoying freedom and prosperity, to honor the sacrifices and dedication of those who made the Republic of Korea what it is today.

Honoring the proud history of our struggle against imperial Japan and upholding the prestige of decorated independence activists is how we protect our community’s past, present and future.

We must no longer tolerate any acts that deny the history of our independence struggle and insult our independence heroes.

If we turn our backs on those who sacrificed themselves for us all, who will step forward when our community faces yet another crisis?

The more deeply we honor and respect those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our community, the stronger our community will become.

My comment: the above section would have been a good opportunity to mention by name the non-Korean parties who engaged in the struggle and sacrifice to free Korea. But no: Korea can only credit itself by name. This is a bitter point for me. But maybe, given how the peninsula was divided up without its consent, Korea feels it has a reason not to be completely thankful.

It was the Korean people who, overcoming the sorrow of losing their nation, gave their lives for independence; who rose from the ashes of war to accomplish a remarkable industrialization; who weathered the 1997 foreign exchange crisis through the gold collection campaign; and who safeguarded our constitutional order against an armed insurrection.

Nope—no partisan political references here.

The rest of the speech expresses optimism for the future, kisses up to North Korea (couched in cautious language, of course), and notes Japan's "tandem" achievements while expressing hope—as happens perennially—that Japan will finally face up to its occupational past. No mention of the US or the Allies. One really is left with the impression that Korea somehow freed itself. How South Korea keeps up this pretense even now is beyond me. At times like this, I'm almost glad the US is plagued by critical leftists who, right or wrong, loudly call out America's flaws. At the very least, such calling-out allows for a discussion to be had as to whether those flaws are real, and if they are real, what can be done about them. By couching his speech in such squirrely, evasive language, President Lee removes any opportunity for similar discussion in Korean society. Then again, I have no idea what Korean Netizens are saying; it's an entire aspect of modern K-culture that I have absolutely no interest in. Maybe there are online conservatives pointing out the same criticisms that I am. One can hope.

Anyway, a happy and mindful Gwangbok-jeol to you. Or just enjoy your 15th.