Gwangbokjeol is one of the four national holidays in Korea, celebrating liberation from Japan and the subsequent creation of the Korean government three years later. It is celebrated yearly in both South Korea and North Korea; in the latter, it is known as Chogukhaebangŭi nal (조국해방의 날). Jamo redirects here. ... Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. ... The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language romanization system in South Korea. ... McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language romanization systems, along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which replaced (a modified) McCune-Reischauer as the official romanization system in South Korea in 2000. ... Korea (Korean: 한국 in South Korea or ì¡°ì„  in North Korea, see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ...

Despite the date, Korea did not gain actual independence on August 15, 1945 (except for the short-lived People's Republic of Korea), but was occupied by the armies of the world's two superpowers, who oversaw the decommissioning of Japanese troops on the peninsula. The North was occupied by the Red Army and governed by the Soviet Civil Authority. August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... The Peoples Republic of Korea (PRK) was a short-lived provisional government organized to take over control of the country after the Japanese surrender at the end of the Pacific War. ... Red Army flag The Workers and Peasants Red Army (Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия, Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya; RKKA or usually simply the Red Army) were the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918 and that, in 1922, became the army of the Soviet Union. ... The Korean peninsula, first divided along the 38th parallel, later along the demarcation line The division of Korea into North Korea and South Korea stems from the 1945 Allied victory in World War II, ending Japans 35-year occupation of Korea. ...

The South was occupied by the United States starting August 13, 1945. Unlike North Korea, the South was not put under a civil authority, but under the United States Army Military Government in Korea (similar to occupied Japan and the Ryukyus). South Korea was not independent until Syngman Rhee was sworn-in as first president of South Korea on August 13, 1948. There is speculation as to why the celebration is August 15, one of them supposing a political strategy to associate Korean independence with the date of Japan's surrender to the Allies of World War II (August 15, 1945), though the true reason is unclear. August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... The United States Army Military Government in Korea, also known as USAMGIK, was the official ruling body of the southern half of the Korean Peninsula from September 8, 1945 to August 15, 1948. ... Capital Tokyo Language(s) Japanese Political structure Military occupation Military Governor of Japan  - 1945-1951 Douglas MacArthur  - 1951-1952 Matthew Ridgway Emperor  - 1926-1989 Hirohito Historical era Post-WWII  - Surrender of Japan August 10, 1945  - San Francisco Peace Treaty September 8, 1951 At the end of the Second World War... The Government of the Ryukyu Islands(ja琉球政府) or U.S. Military government of the Ryukyu Islands(ja 琉球軍政府) is the government in Okinawa, Japan after the World War II until 1972. ... Syngman Rhee or Lee Seungman (March 26, 1875 – July 19, 1965) was the first president of South Korea. ... The President is head of state of South Korea. ... August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... The Japanese representatives on board USS Missouri during the surrender ceremonies on 2 September 1945. ... The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

2005

In 2005, over 20,000 people gathered in front of Seoul's city hall to celebrate Gwangbokjeol, and my birthday. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Seoul   is the capital of South Korea and is located on the Han River in the countrys northwest. ...

See also

• Victory over Japan Day