Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea will present its annual Children's Choir Patriotic Concert in Incheon this Friday to celebrate Liberation Day, marking the 80th anniversary of Korea's freedom from Japanese colonial rule. The large-scale musical event will feature approximately 700 children from FEBC-Korea's regional children's choirs performing at the Samsan World Gymnasium in Incheon.
This year's concert holds extraordinary significance as it coincides with multiple historic milestones. The event also commemorates the 140th anniversary of Protestant missions being established in Korea and the 75th anniversary of the Incheon Landing Operation during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. These overlapping anniversaries create a particularly meaningful backdrop for the patriotic celebration.
Organizers deliberately selected Incheon as the venue due to its profound historical importance in Korean history. The city has served as a central hub for the independence movement, the birthplace of Korea's modernization efforts, and the location where Christian missionary work first took root in the country. Most notably, Incheon was the site of U.S. General Douglas MacArthur's crucial landing operation in 1950, a pivotal military maneuver that dramatically shifted the momentum of the Korean War in favor of South Korea and its allies.
Incheon's role as Korea's gateway to the world through its major port and international airport adds another layer of significance to the venue choice. The city also holds special meaning for FEBC-Korea itself, as it was the location where the broadcasting company first began its operations. This connection makes the celebration particularly poignant as FEBC-Korea approaches its 70th anniversary milestone next year.
The concert's program will take audiences on a comprehensive journey through Korean history, beginning with the introduction of Christian missions during the late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). During this period, new religious beliefs and progressive ideas quietly spread throughout Korea despite government restrictions and traditional resistance. The performance will then move through the dark period of Japanese colonial occupation, highlighting how the Korean people united in their pursuit of independence and freedom.
The historical narrative continues with the decisive turning point of the Incheon Landing Operation during the Korean War, followed by the postwar years of national revival and Korea's remarkable transformation into a modern developed nation. The program concludes by looking toward the future with enduring hope for reunion and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Throughout the performance, children from across Korea will deliver powerful messages of freedom, peace, and unity through their songs. The concert will prominently feature four inspirational slogans that encapsulate Korea's journey: Dynamic Korea, Miracle Korea, Amazing Korea, and One Korea. The first three slogans reflect Korea's dramatic historical struggles and remarkable achievements, its extraordinary economic and technological advancement, and the divine grace that many believe has guided the nation's success.
The final slogan, "One Korea," represents the ultimate aspiration for reconciliation between North and South Korea, the healing of deep historical wounds, and the achievement of peaceful reunification. This message of hope resonates particularly strongly as Korea continues to work toward lasting peace on the divided peninsula.
"The patriotic city of Incheon, joining hands with FEBC-Korea's Patriotic Concert that calls for freedom and peace, is expected to present a more vibrant stage than ever before," stated an official representative from FEBC-Korea. The collaboration between the historically significant city and the broadcasting company's musical celebration promises to create an unforgettable tribute to Korea's journey toward freedom and its hopes for the future.
