Korean Dictionary
How to say "Liberation Day" in Korean
“Liberation Day” in Korean is 광복절 (pronounced "gwangbokjeol").
광복절
gwangbokjeol
Usage & Context
Gwangbokjeol (광복절) is Korea National Liberation Day celebrated on August 15. It marks the liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. It is one of Korea most important national holidays.
Example Sentence
광복절은 8월 15일이에요.
Liberation Day is August 15.
How to use 광복절 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Liberation Day” is 광복절, romanized as gwangbokjeol.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 광복절.
Pronunciation Guide
"Gwang-bok-jeol" sounds like "gwahng-bok-juhl." "Gwahng" rhymes with 'song' but with a 'gw' sound. "Bok" rhymes with 'book'. "Juhl" sounds like 'jull' (like 'hull' with a 'j'). The stress is relatively even across syllables.
More Example Sentences
Explaining national holidays to a foreigner.
광복절은 한국의 중요한 국경일 중 하나예요.
Gwangbokjeol is one of Korea's important national holidays.
Describing a national tradition.
매년 광복절에는 태극기를 게양해요.
Every year on Gwangbokjeol, we raise the Korean flag.
Talking about TV programming during holidays.
광복절 특선 영화로 독립운동 관련 영화를 많이 보여줘요.
For Gwangbokjeol special movies, they show many films related to the independence movement.
Cultural Context
광복절 (Gwangbokjeol), or National Liberation Day, is celebrated on August 15th and commemorates Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. It's a significant national holiday, often marked by official ceremonies, special TV programming (especially historical dramas and documentaries), and families raising the Korean flag (태극기, Taegukgi) outside their homes. The word 광복 itself means "restoration of light," symbolizing the return of national sovereignty after a dark period. It's a day for reflection on national identity and the sacrifices made for independence.
Editorial note
We review entries like 광복절 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
광복절 기념식
Gwangbokjeol ceremony
광복절 연휴
Gwangbokjeol long weekend (if it falls near a weekend)
광복절 노래
Gwangbokjeol song (a patriotic song)
Related Expressions
국경일
gukgyeongil
national holiday
독립 기념일
dongnip ginyeomil
Independence Memorial Day
태극기
taegukgi
Korean national flag
3.1절 (삼일절)
Samiljeol
March First Movement Day (another independence-related holiday)
More Korean History Words
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