Ukraine celebrates Independence Day in Seoul

Ukrainian and Korean performers hold flags of Ukraine and Korea during a concert celebrating Ukraine's Independence Day at Marronnier Park in Seoul's Daehangno area, Sunday. Courtesy of Embassy of Ukraine in Korea

By Kwon Mee-yoo

The Embassy of Ukraine in Korea, along with the Ukrainian community here, held a concert and charity event commemorating its Independence Day at Marronnier Park in Seoul's Daehangno area, Sunday.

Ukraine celebrates its independence from the Soviet Union every Aug. 24.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko said the occasion carries particular importance this year.

"We Ukrainians believe in peace and strive for freedom in our country, proudly resisting the unjustifiable military aggression. When our compatriots in Ukraine are defending its statehood and democratic values, many Ukrainians abroad have united around the idea of making the world hear the truth about the war in Ukraine," he said during opening remarks.

He expressed gratitude for Koreans who stand with Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing invasion and hoped for the concert to send out a message of gratitude to everyone helping Ukraine.

"We are deeply grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine in this fight. All as one. Free people of the free world," he said.

"I also want to thank to our esteemed guests from diplomatic missions and our Korean friends for showing solidarity with Ukraine in this difficult time. Your support makes us closer to the victory."

Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko, second from left, attends a concert celebrating Ukraine's Independence Day at Marronnier Park in Seoul's Daehangno area, Sunday. Courtesy of Embassy of Ukraine in Korea

Ukrainian artists, including Mariia Tymoshenko, Nataliya Mylovanova, Julia Stepanets, Kostyantyn Matviyenko, Nikolai, Elena Litvinenko and Julia Chzhen, performed a variety of Ukrainian and Korean music and dance at the concert.

Leo, a naturalized Korean singer from Ukraine also known as Leonid Dukelskyy, sang "No War," a new song he released in June hoping for peace in Ukraine.

"I am singing this song for my home country, Ukraine. I hope more Koreans would stand with Ukraine in this war," he said during the concert.

The event featured booths offering Ukrainian food and handcrafted items for fundraising as well.

Ukrainians living in Korea as well as Koreans and other local residents supporting Ukraine attended the free concert, wearing traditional Ukrainian costumes or the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag.