Celebrating Victory Day in Korea
The Korean people celebrate Victory Day on July 27 of each year.
On the occasion of this anniversary, streets in cities and villages across Korea are imbued with an atmosphere of national loyalty. The spirits of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in defense of the homeland during the 1950s are remembered, and new generations renew their resolve to emulate their heroic spirit and devotion to the country.
The victory achieved in the Father’s Liberation War (June 25, 1950 – July 27, 1953), which history describes as a confrontation between conventional firearms and nuclear weapons, stands as a brilliant page in the record of the Korean people’s victories.
On June 26, 1950, the day after the outbreak of the war, President Kim Il Sung, founder of modern Korea, delivered a radio address titled “Let Us Mobilize All Our Strengths for Victory in the War,” outlining the tasks necessary to achieve decisive victory. He led the army and the people with military acumen and distinctive strategy until victory was secured.
Under the leadership of President Kim Il Sung, the Korean people demonstrated exceptional courage and collective heroism during the three years of war, successfully repelling the offensive of the allied imperialist forces while safeguarding the dignity, sovereignty, and independence of the nation.
That period was filled with timeless heroic stories, including that of an 18-year-old soldier who offered his youth and life as a ransom for his country; a nurse who confronted an enemy tank while carrying a bundle of hand grenades; and a military driver who faithfully contributed to securing transport operations to the front lines, alongside numerous other heroes whose deeds remain immortalized in the history of Korea’s victory.
Korea honors the defenders of the homeland in the 1950s, who protected the nation with honor and established a lasting legacy of heroism. They are regarded as role models for successive generations, accorded high status, and treated with respect and care across all spheres of life.
Through the fierce three-year war fought in defense of the nation’s freedom and independence, the Korean people became convinced that enhancing self-reliant defensive capabilities represents the best means of safeguarding the right of the nation and the people to survive and develop.
Today, under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Un, Chairman of State Affairs, Korea’s defensive capabilities have reached an advanced level, enabling it to deter any external aggression and respond to it effectively. Amid escalating tensions in the region, Korea continues to play its role as a credible deterrent force on the Korean Peninsula.
