Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
1 in 4 young Koreans ignorant about Liberation Day meaning: poll
A girl points to a display showing the signatures of Korea's independence fighters in Seoul, Tuesday, as the nation celebrates the 78th anniversary of its liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese occupation. Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
More than one out of four young Koreans who were born between 1995 and 2009 are not sufficiently aware of the meaning of National Liberation Day, with more than 10 percent saying they had no idea, a recent poll shows.
According to survey results released Monday, the day before the national holiday marking Korea's independence from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, 15.6 percent of respondents in that age group said they were “not well aware” of its meaning, while 11.2 percent said they were “completely unaware.”
Among those respondents, described as members of Generation Z by PMI, a pollster, only 21.9 percent said they were well aware of the day, including the date, year of independence and meaning, while 51.4 percent said they were somewhat aware.
Their awareness rates are the lowest among all the different age groups surveyed. The older people are, the more aware they are of the day, the poll demonstrates.
Those born in 1964 or before, the oldest bracket, show the highest rates, with 92.3 percent saying they were well or somewhat aware of it.
The poll also suggests Gen Z values personal freedom more than older generations. Asked if traveling to Japan on that holiday would be appropriate, 32.6 percent said they would have no problem with it as the decision should depend on individuals' freedom. The rate is higher than the average of 29.5 percent among other age groups.