If you’re in Korea on May 5th, don’t go to amusement parks because it’s Children’s Day.
Here’s what Korean Children’s Day is all about!
Quick Summary
- May 5th is a full-on public holiday. Whether you’re a parent, kid, or not, everyone gets the day off.
- Don’t be surprised to see kids with balloons, parents with backpacks full of snacks, and entire families crowding theme parks, zoos, and aquariums on Children’s Day in Korea.
When Is Children’s Day in Korea?
Every year on May 5th, South Korea celebrates Children’s Day.
It’s a legal holiday, so schools are closed, and workplaces give employees the day off.
May is also called “Family Month (가정의 달)” in Korea, which includes:
- Parents’ Day on May 8th
- Teachers’ Day on May 15th
- Coming of Age Day in mid-May
If May 5th happens to fall on a weekend or overlaps with Buddha’s Birthday, we get the following day as a substitute holiday. In this year 2025, May 6th will be a day off as well!
Why Do Koreans Celebrate Children’s Day?
Officially, it’s a day to cherish children and promote their happiness, dreams, and well-being.
But beyond the slogans, Children’s Day matters because Korean kids are super busy. Even at age 5, many attend hagwon (private academies) for English, math, and even test prep.
Korean parents are also crazy busy and often have little time to spend with their children during the week.
So on Children’s Day, everyone tries to make up for lost time.
Families head to amusement parks, zoos, aquariums, or just spend quality time together.
It’s a rare moment when both parents and kids are free.
Where Do Families Go on Children’s Day?
You’ll see them pretty much everywhere in public on May 5th.
Popular spots are zoos, aquariums, theme parks like Lotte World, Everland, or Legoland, parks, and family-friendly restaurants.
Avoid these places if you’re not with kids. Because everyone else is already there. And we play a “noonchi* game” on a national scale this day.
Sometimes people avoid these places for fear of crowds, which weirdly makes them less crowded. But I wouldn’t count on it.
*Noonchi is a broad concept meaning “eye measure.” It includes intuition, sense, perception, wit, reading the room, taking and giving a hint. Most commonly, it’s a way to gauge people’s thoughts and feelings based on their behavior, tone, body language, and situation.
From my book, “A Korean Girl Explains“
How Did Children’s Day Start in Korea?
Back in the day, Korean society didn’t exactly cherish children.
Kids were often seen as free labor or another mouth to feed.
Children’s activists used to shout out, “Do not curse, do not hit, and do not make them work.” That says a lot about what kids faced back then.
Then, Mr. Bang Jeong-Hwan (1899-1931), an educator, writer, and activist who loved children, wanted to change how they were treated.
In 1923, he held the first Children’s Day event with others, under the slogan, “Let’s save hope, let’s save tomorrow.”
He pretty much invented the word “Eorini (어린이)“, a respectful word for “child,” to replace more dismissive terms used at the time.
How Do Koreans Spend Children’s Day?
Children’s Day usually goes like this.
- Sleep in (unless you’re a parent)
- Go to a zoo, aquarium, or amusement park
- Eat something kids love (pizza, or family buffet)
- Get gifts like toys, books, clothes, or video games
- Come home exhausted but happy
Also, grandparents, aunts (emo), and uncles (samchon) give gifts too!
What Counts as a “Child” in Korea?
In Korea, kids in 6th grade or under (Korean age 13) are considered children.
Once you hit middle school, Children’s Day ends for you and you no longer receive gifts.
But Mr. Bang Jeong-Hwan’s original idea was that a child is anyone up to 1/3 of the average lifespan.
In the 1920s, the average life expectancy was just 48 years, and being a child until 16 made sense. Today, with a life expectancy of around 83, childhood should stretch to about 28!
So, if you’re under 28, go ahead and treat yourself!
What Are Popular Gifts for Children’s Day?
Korean parents go all out and it’s like a Christmas gift for kids.
Popular gifts are toys, dolls, video games, consoles, clothes, shoes, books, bikes, or scooters.
But the most precious gift of all is time to spend with them.
Children’s Day in Korea isn’t just about giving gifts.
It’s about recognizing kids as individual beings with emotions, dreams, and rights.
If you’re a child, a parent, or just someone under 28, Happy Children’s Day!
