May 5 - Children's Day in South Korea

Posted on May 5, 2021

Key Points

This is an update of my post published on May 5, 2010:

Children’s Day is a national holiday in South Korea, and it is seen as a time for gifts and fun. Many parents take their kids to amusement parks, movies, parks, zoos, and other excursions—although some regions may still be struggling with the pandemic, this year!

In normal years, at least, some fun places offer free admission to children on this day. Also, some stores give out free gifts to children on this day.

Tae kwon do demonstrations are a part of Children’s Day for some kids. This martial art started in Korea more than two thousand years ago and involves quick, sharp kicking.

Another common activity of the day is traditional games such as the boardgame yut.

There are special festivals, such as creativity festivals, in some cities.

By the way…

Many other cultures celebrate “Children’s Day,” although in different months and days. Japan’s Children’s Day is the same date as South Korea’s, but North Korea’s version – called International Children’s Day – falls in June. Hopefully the day is a lot of fun for most North Korean kids, but this mock military parade doesn’t look very fun!

Learn more about South Korea.

The mascot of Korea, according to some, is Haetae (or Haechi). I have seen Haetae described as a fire-breathing dog or as a lion-beast. According to Mythical Creatures Guide, Haetae can stop time, go back in time, or fast-forward time. It also causes the moon’s phases and eclipses by biting the moon. Its most important ability may be that it can eat fire—and therefore it can protect people and buildings from fire.

(By the way, the Guide I linked to says that Haetae is a Japanese creature that is commonly seen in or in front of Japanese buildings, but apparently the authors of the website got it wrong. The photo, and the creature and its myth, are Korean.)

Here is a South Korean flag to color.

Wow!