10,000 Rally at Aug. 15 Independence and Peace March to Oppose War and Call for Recovery of Wartime Operational Control

On the afternoon of the 15th, the 81st anniversary of Liberation, the '2026 Aug. 15 Independence and Peace March' was held in the Gwanghwamun and Sungnyemun areas of Seoul, urging an end to war and the recovery of wartime operational control (OPCON). According to organizers, approximately 10,000 participants marched in the event. A total of 201 organizations and 613 members of the steering committee gathered in front of the Gwanghwamun Square's elevated platform (Woldae) at 2:30 PM, marching past Bosingak Pavilion, the entrance of Eulji-ro, and Seoul Square, arriving at a special stage in front of Sungnyemun Gate. Prior to the march, preparatory events such as a unification bibimbap feast, a national workers' rally, a farmers' rally, and a women's rally were held at various locations to build enthusiasm.

Administrative regulations served as a major backdrop for this march, as police prohibited marching in the section in front of the U.S. Embassy and the Seoul Metropolitan Government revoked approval for the use of Seoul Square, the main venue. Police cited functional infringement and traffic congestion as reasons, while the Seoul Administrative Court dismissed the steering committee's application for a preliminary injunction to suspend the execution of the revocation. The city government took issue with the political nature of the promotional materials participants carried. The steering committee protested this as an infringement on the freedom of assembly and expression, eventually proceeding with the march by changing the route and the main event venue.

At the main event held at the special stage in front of Sungnyemun Gate, Lee Hong-jeong, Co-Representative of the Independence and Unification Peace Coalition, criticized South Korea-U.S.-Japan military cooperation and the policy of modernizing the South Korea-U.S. alliance. He called for an end to strategic ambiguity, the recovery of OPCON, and the cessation of South Korea-U.S. joint war drills. Through video screenings, key issues in South Korea-U.S. relations were highlighted, including the concept of 'alliance modernization,' which could involve deploying U.S. Forces Korea to conflicts outside the Korean Peninsula, and pressure for U.S. investment. Following this, Baek Hwi-sun, head of the 2026 University Student Independence and Peace Action Group, criticized Japan's moves toward rearmament and pledged a just resolution to historical issues. At the rally site, speeches by figures such as Kim Jong-hoon, leader of the Progressive Party, continued to solidify the participants' resolve. Representative Kim pointed out environmental pollution issues at U.S. military bases in Korea and shouted opposition to the transformation of the Korean Peninsula into a war base.

The stage concluded with a performance by the team 'Experience and Imagination.' The steering committee assessed that this march served as an opportunity to publicize the necessity of building a peace system both domestically and internationally.