Gukmin Imyeongsik (People’s Appointment Ceremony) on Liberation Day: What Happens in Gwanghwamun? (August 15, 2025) Overview: What is the “People’s Appointment Ceremony”? The People’s Appointment Ceremony is an unprecedented national event where, instead of the traditional inauguration, citizens symbolically “appoint” the President. The name, Gukmin Imyeongsik in Korean, literally means “Citizen Appointment Ceremony,” emphasizing that sovereignty belongs to the people . The background traces back to June 4, 2025, when President Lee Jae-myung held a brief swearing-in ceremony at the National Assembly Rotunda without a large-scale inauguration. At the time, the government promised a later public event where “the President is appointed by the people,” and this Liberation Day evening in Gwanghwamun fulfills that pledge. Key Event Information 1) Date & Venue August 15, 2025 (Friday), starting at 8:00 PM in Gwanghwamun Square , Seoul. A large circular stag...