통일부

I. Significance of the National Festival

In a commemorative event on August 15, marking the 60^th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, South and North Korea will hold a joint national festival, attended by both civilians and government officials. In the aftermath of the June 15 Summit held in 2000, South and North Korea have held joint commemorative events to celebrate the March 1 Independence Movement, June 15 inter-Korean Summit, August 15 national liberation, among others. What sets this year's joint national festival apart from others in the past is that it is the first time that both civilians and government officials will be attending the national event staged in Seoul.

Since Korea's liberation and its division into South and North Korea 60 years ago, there are first, second, and third generations now living together on the Korean peninsula. The first generation is the War generation, which experienced the Korean War of 1950-1953. The second generation is regarded as the Cold War generation, which views inter-Korean relations through the Cold War lens. The third generation is the young generation or generation of coexistence, which is actually witnessing the progress being made in inter-Korean relations.

In this regard, the fact that the inter-Korean joint national festival will be celebrated in Seoul is significant because all three generations will be able to observe inter-Korean cooperation at the governmental and civilian levels. The national festival should not be viewed from an ideological perspective of progressive or conservative but as an important occasion for both the South and the North, as a first step, to shed the Cold War remnants.

II. Details & Schedule of the Grand National Festival

1. The Grand National Festival will be held from August 14 (Sun.) until 17 (Wed.) in Seoul.

2. More than 700 participants will be attending the joint national festival including 165 civilian delegates from the North (including soccer teams), 17 government officials, 241 Korean delegates from abroad, and 400 delegates from the South.
   • The North Korean delegation will be arriving in Seoul using the West Sea direct route between Incheon and Sunan.

  3. List of Major Events(Aug. 14~ 17)

• August 14:

1) Grand Unification March
2) Inter-Korean unification soccer match (men)

• August 15:

1) August 15 Grand National Festival
2) Performance by the South (Concert celebrating the anniversary event)

• August 16:

1) Sporting matches
2) Recreational games
3) Closing ceremony
4) Inter-Korean unification soccer match (women)

• August 17:

Delegations to the festival are scheduled to visit various historic venues.

III. August 15 Joint National Festivals held from 2001-2004  

1. In 2001, the national festival was held in Pyongyang from August 14 until 21, and 337civilian participants from the South attended the event
2. In 2002, it was held in Seoul from August 14 until 17, and 116 participants from the North attended the event
3. In 2003, it was held in Pyeongyang from August 14 until 17, and 339 participants from the South attended the event.
4. In 2004, the joint national festival was canceled.
5. In 2005, the joint national festival will be held in Seoul from August 14 until 17, and 165 participants from the North, 400 participants from the South, and 241 participants from overseas attended the event.