Connecting Memory and Solidarity: KCCI to Celebrate 80th Anniversary of Korean Liberation Day

– August 15 holds deep national significance in both Korea and India, as it marks the day each country gained its independence

– A special photo exhibition titled, “Korea, In the Shadows of Pain, The Light of Dreams” will be on display from August 14 to October 31

– The New Delhi Korean Film Festival 2025 will be held at KCCI from August 14-16 to celebrate 80th Anniversary of Korean Liberation

As Korea commemorates the 80th anniversary of its liberation from colonial rule on August 15, the same day that India celebrates its Independence Day, Korean Cultural Centre India will simultaneously host a special photo exhibition titled, “Korea, In the Shadows of Pain, The Light of Dreams” and the New Delhi Korean Film Festival 2025.

While the film festival will be a three-day event from August 14 to 16, the special exhibition will be on display from August 14 to October 31. Both the events will be organised at the Korean Cultural Centre India in New Delhi, and aim to reaffirm the shared values of freedom and human dignity between the two countries through the medium of culture and art. The film screening will begin at 3 pm on each day.

Curated to mark the 80th anniversary of liberation, “Korea, In the Shadows of Pain, The Light of Dreams” showcases the contemporary history of Korea through the lens of three renowned photographers— Koo Wangsam, Cho Kyusun, and Baek Jongha. Through their distinct perspectives, the works explore themes of liberation, ideological conflict, growth of independent culture and art, and the turbulent journey toward democracy. The exhibition aims to give India’s younger generation, many of whom know Korea mainly through K-culture and K-pop, a deeper and more nuanced understanding of Korean history and society.

The exhibition space consists of three galleries. The first gallery showcases the realistic works of Koo Wangsam, a pioneer of modern Korean photography, who captured the spatial and temporal realities of post-liberation Korea. The second gallery showcases Baek Jongha’s warm depictions of rural landscapes, delicately portraying the lyricism of nature through rain, trees, clouds, and water. The third gallery features Cho Kyusun’s renowned ‘Dancing Egret’ series, which uses the graceful form of the egret as a metaphor for the tensions and societal changes during Korea’s modernisation.

To go beyond passive viewing, the exhibition offers interactive experiences. A large map of the Korean Peninsula installed on the floor will display Polaroid photographs taken by foreign journalists immediately after Korea’s liberation, allowing visitors to walk across the map, revisit key moments in history by region, and immerse themselves in the sights and atmosphere of that era. The exhibition has been curated by Professor Jung Jae-Han of Yeungnam University of Technology and has been organised in association with Daegu Photography Culture Research Institute and the Yeungnam University Contemporary Photography and Film Society.

Complementing the photo exhibition will be the 4th edition of New Delhi Korean Film Festival that will screen three films that depict the turbulent history of Korean society and the personal convictions of individuals. The opening film, ‘Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet’ (2016), delicately captures the inner world of poet Yun Dong Ju, who resisted oppression through poetry until the very end, a theme expected to deeply resonate with Indian audiences today. The film has won numerous awards, including the ‘Grand Prize’ at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards and the ‘Best Screenplay’ at the 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards.

On August 15, ‘Assassination’ (2015), an action film centred on an armed independence movement’s secret mission, portraying the struggles and choices of those who fought for Korea’s liberation, will be screened. On August 16, an occult drama titled ‘Dark Nuns’ (2025), that also released in India at PVR INOX theatres, will be screened. The film weaves together themes of religion and the supernatural, exploring the intersection of human faith and fear through a tense, immersive narrative.

In a special event organised by KCCI, Korean actress Moon Choi, who acts in the opening film ‘Dongju’, will interact with the Indian audiences in an online ‘Cine Talk’ event at 5:30 pm on August 14. The actress will share her candid thoughts regarding her role, as well as the message she hopes the film will convey to Indian audiences. Additionally, to highlight the friendship between the two nations, a face-painting activity will also be held, where visitors can have the flags of both countries painted on their faces. This interactive experience will create a space for cultural exchange that goes beyond simply watching a film.

Hwang Il Yong, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India, said, “Despite their different historical backgrounds, Korea and India share a common experience of walking the path towards freedom. I hope this film festival and photo exhibition will serve as an opportunity to shed new light on the meaning of liberation, a journey that both countries should remember and celebrate together, through culture and art. The authenticity and narratives unique to Korean films will deeply resonate with young Indians, and the photo exhibition will also serve as a valuable forum for exchange, blending history and emotion.”