Technically part of my “Growing Up in Korea” series—but think of this one as a holiday special!
May 5th is Children’s Day in Korea, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to tell this story today. 🎈
New to the series? Get the full context starting with “Growing Up in Korea: But First, Why Korea?”
I had a whole post scheduled to go live—a deep dive (with charts and everything!) into Korea’s medical school craze.
But… change of plans. That one’s now bumped to the week after next.
All thanks to a paper crown.
Last Saturday, my daughter came home from Korean school beaming—wearing a slightly crumpled crown that declared her “최고 어린이” (choego eorini – Best Child Ever!) and clutching a gift bag overflowing with snacks and stickers.
The reason? May 5th is Children’s Day in Korea.
My daughter kept shouting, “It’s almost Children’s Day!” — and I realized something: a lot of you might have no idea what that is.
So, in honor of sugar-fueled joy and pint-sized royalty, let’s hit pause on pre-med madness and take a deep dive into one of Korea’s most cherished holidays.
Wait… There’s a National Holiday Just for Kids?
Yes. An actual, honest-to-goodness public holiday. Schools are closed. Parents (mostly) get time off. Whole cities are seemingly taken over by kids in face paint holding balloon swords.
If you’re in the U.S., this might sound surreal.
My daughter, who was born and raised here, has always received gifts from her Korean relatives on May 5th, but it wasn’t until she joined a Korean language school that she really felt the hype surrounding Children’s Day—Eorininal (어린이날).
Now she’s asking, “Why doesn’t America have Children’s Day too?”
And I mean… fair question.
Sure, the U.S. has historical roots for a Children’s Day (shoutout to that Massachusetts pastor from 1857), and the UN observes World Children’s Day on November 20th.
But here? It’s not a federal holiday. There’s no guaranteed day off, no nationwide candy avalanche, no ubiquitous circus in the park vibe.
Some folks say “every day should be Children’s Day,” but let’s be honest — it often isn’t. Especially if you’ve seen what passes for school lunch in some places.
Rewind to Colonial Korea: When Childhood Was a Luxury
To really appreciate Korea’s National Children’s Day, you have to go back about a century. Korea was under Japanese colonial rule, and childhood was — let’s say — not typically cute and colorful. Kids were often seen more as mini-laborers or possessions than as people with rights.
Enter Bang Jeong-hwan (방정환) — writer, activist, and the father of Korea’s children’s rights movement. Influenced by the post-1919 March 1st Independence Movement and his Cheondogyo faith (a native Korean faith, translating to “Religion of the Heavenly Way,” teaching “Man is Heaven” or Innaecheon), Bang decided it was time Korea started treating kids like actual human beings.
The Man Who Invented “Child” (Kind Of)
Here’s a fun linguistic twist: before Bang, Korean kids were often called “애” (ae) or “애들” (aedeul). Think of it like the English word “kid(s)”. While not necessarily insulting today (and often used affectionately), back then it could carry a slightly dismissive vibe.
So Bang championed a new word: “어린이 (Eorini).” It combines “어린” (eorin – young) and “이” (-i), a suffix denoting a person. So instead of just “a kid,” it specifically meant “a young person.” A whole person, deserving respect.
Boom. Language upgraded. And with it, a potential revolution in how Korean society viewed children.
The 1923 Manifesto That Spoke Up for Kids—Loud and Clear
On May 1, 1923, Korea celebrated its first Children’s Day. Leaflets were handed out with bold, revolutionary demands to adults—simple on the surface, but radical for the time. Among them:
Use honorifics when speaking to children.
Speak gently.
Children deserve play, education, and freedom from oppression.
This was a full year before the League of Nations issued its Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1924. Korea was ahead of the curve.
Bang wasn’t just throwing picnics — he was launching a movement.
He founded the “Saekdonghoe” (literally: Rainbow Stripe Society) in 1922 to promote children’s culture and rights. He published a magazine, also called Eorini (어린이), full of stories and poems for kids. And he campaigned for schools and parents to take children seriously as future leaders — not just adorable freeloaders.
But Then Came the Crackdown
The Japanese colonial government wasn’t thrilled. By the late 1920s, authorities began to suppress the Children’s Day movement, suspicious of its ties to nationalism and its original May Day timing. By 1939, it was effectively banned.
Their tactic? They tried to overwrite it — literally — by creating their own “Infant Protection Day” on May 5th. Same date, totally different vibe. The underlying message? “Children are to be protected (read: controlled), not empowered.”
Independence and a Do-Over
After Korea regained independence in 1945, National Children’s Day came roaring back. By 1946, organizers chose May 5th — the same date Japan tried to hijack — and made it Korea’s own again, reclaiming it with a new, liberated meaning.
It became an officially designated observance in 1973 and a full-blown public holiday in 1975. And yes, if it lands on a weekend or overlaps with Buddha’s Birthday, Korea now designates a substitute holiday — that’s how serious they are about ensuring kids (and their families) get the day.
So… What Happens on May 5th Today?
- It’s the Super Bowl of Kid Culture Think amusement parks packed to the gills, parades, free museum days, science fairs, puppet shows, magic acts, and bubble parties in public squares. Even Seoul’s royal palaces often throw open the gates for special kids’ events.
- Gifts, Obviously Let’s be honest, gifts are a central part of the excitement! Trends shift with age, ranging from toys and playsets for little ones to tech gadgets, gaming gear, and gift cards for older kids – reflecting their desire for choice. Increasingly, parents also opt for “experience gifts,” like event tickets or workshops, valuing memories over material items.
- It’s a Whole Community Affair Cities throw giant festivals. Libraries host special story times. Science museums roll out cool experiments. Even banks and department stores might have special offers or small events. It’s one of those rare days when almost everyone agrees — the spotlight should be on the kids.
A Quick World Tour: Children’s Day Elsewhere
While Korea’s National Children’s Day is unique in its public holiday status and deep historical roots, many countries celebrate children.
Universal Children’s Day, established by UNICEF, is November 20th, and many nations observe it then. Others have different dates – June 1st is common in many former and current socialist countries (like China, Russia, Poland). Turkey celebrates National Sovereignty and Children’s Day on April 23rd. Taiwan celebrates on April 4th, where it’s a public holiday often combined with the Qingming (Tomb Sweeping) Festival holiday, creating a long weekend focused on family. Japan has Kodomo no Hi on May 5th too, celebrating children’s well-being and showing appreciation for mothers.
Wrapping Up (For Now!) and What’s Next
From its revolutionary roots to today’s nationwide explosion of fun (and gifts!), that’s Korea’s National Children’s Day in a nutshell.
It’s far more than just a day off; it’s a century-old promise to cherish the nation’s youngest members—a promise that perhaps feels even more relevant amidst the pressures of modern childhood.
And since we’re already in the thick of Korea’s ‘Family Month,’ stay tuned for next week! We’ll explore two more uniquely Korean May holidays: Eobeoinal (어버이날 – Parents’ Day) on May 8th and Seuseung-ui Nal (스승의 날 – Teachers’ Day) on May 15th. Think Mother’s/Father’s Day and Teacher Appreciation Week, but with fascinating Korean twists. It’ll be fun!
Until then: Happy Children’s Day, wherever you are and however you celebrate the kids in your life! 🥳
(And yes, to those waiting for the lowdown on the medical school craze – it’s still coming, promise! Thanks for your patience.)
Does your country or culture have unique ways of celebrating children, parents, or teachers? Let me know in the comments!
