LIBERIAN ASSOCIATION IN SOUTH KOREA
Liberia at 179: the full Independence Day programme, from thanksgiving to the final whistle
A thanksgiving service in Paju, a formal evening in Pyeongtaek, a night party in Songtan, then a full day of football in Suwon — how the Liberian community in South Korea marks the 179th anniversary of independence, all the way to the Independence Day Cup.
Liberia turns 179 on Sunday 26 July 2026. For the Liberian community in South Korea the anniversary is not one afternoon but a programme stretched across four events, three cities and eight days — opening in worship in Paju and closing with a trophy on a pitch in Suwon.
All times below are venue time.
Sunday 19 July · Thanksgiving Service, Paju
The celebration opened in worship at Joy House in Paju-eup at 14:30, giving thanks for Liberia and for the community that has made a home here in Korea. The order was deliberate: before the speeches, the music and the football, a service.
Saturday 25 July · In-door Programme, Pyeongtaek
The formal evening begins at 18:00 at the Programme Hall in Paengseong-eup, Pyeongtaek — speeches, culture and dinner marking Independence Day. Attire is formal, and the hall is three minutes from USAG Camp Humphreys.
Saturday 25 July · Night Party, Songtan
At 23:30 the celebration moves to AB Club in Songtan City for the after-party — music and dancing that carry the room across midnight and into Independence Day itself.
Sunday 26 July · Out-door Programme, Ajou University
Independence Day proper starts early. The outdoor programme opens at 08:30 at the Ajou University Soccer Field in Suwon: the football tournament between eight African nations, plus kickball and the day's entertainment. One ticket — ₩60,000 adult, ₩30,000 child — covers every outdoor activity.
10:00 · Eight nations, two groups
The African Continental Cup is the centrepiece. Eight nations are drawn into two groups of four: Liberia, Tanzania, Kenya and Burundi in Group A; Ghana, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Guinea in Group B. Games are 30 minutes and run back-to-back from 10:00 across two pitches — Group A on Pitch 1, Group B on Pitch 2 — so the entire round-robin is settled inside three hours.
13:00 · Semi-finals · 14:00 · the continental final
Two from each group advance, and the semi-finals cross over: the Group A winner meets the Group B runner-up, the Group B winner meets the Group A runner-up, both kicking off at 13:00. The winners come back at 14:00 for the continental final. In 30-minute games there is no room to grow into a tournament — a single goal in the morning can decide who is still standing in the afternoon.
15:00 · The Independence Day Cup
Then the showpiece. At 15:00 host side Liberia Lone Star take the field for the Liberia Independence Day Cup against the champions of the African Continental Cup — an opponent they will not know until barely an hour before kick-off, whoever survives the morning groups and the afternoon knockouts.
One match, one trophy, on the 179th anniversary of Liberian independence.
The programme at a glance
Sun 19 Jul, 14:30 — Thanksgiving Service · Joy House, Paju
Sat 25 Jul, 18:00 — In-door Programme · Paengseong-eup, Pyeongtaek (formal attire)
Sat 25 Jul, 23:30 — Night Party · AB Club, Songtan City
Sun 26 Jul, 08:30 — Out-door Programme · Ajou University Soccer Field, Suwon
Sun 26 Jul, 10:00 — African Continental Cup group stage, two pitches
Sun 26 Jul, 13:00 — Semi-finals · 14:00 — Continental final
Sun 26 Jul, 15:00 — Independence Day Cup: Lone Star v the continental champions
Full details for each of the four events — venue, address and ticketing — are listed under Events on this site. The Independence Day Cup final has its own page, and it goes live as the day plays out.