[Article] South Korea Children’s Day:MAY 5

[Article] South Korea Children’s Day:MAY 5
cr:aglobalworld

Children’s Day is a public holiday in South Korea.

Children’s Day, also known locally as Uh-lin-e-na, is celebrated in South Korea on the 5th of May every year. It is a public holiday observed since 1922. South Korea sets aside this date to celebrate children’s happiness and to remind each citizen that the day should be commemorated to promote children’s general welfare and protection.



History of South Korea Children’s’ Day

South Korean children’s book writer, Bang Jeong-hwan, was said to have sparked the institution of Children’s Day as a public holiday in the country. An Open Letter to Adults, a letter he wrote on May 1, 1923 calls all South Koreans to treat children with respect especially in the manner on how adults speak to them and make sure that they neither shout nor mistreat them.



In the words of Bang Jeong-hwan

“Children are the future of our nation. Let’s show respect for children. Children who grow up with ridicule and contempt from others will become people who disrespect others, while children who grow up with respect from others will become people who respect others in turn.”

Due to many years of Japanese occupation after the fall of South Korean Empire in 1910, the celebration of Children’s Day has become quite similar to how Japanese celebrate the holiday, as in the case of Japan’s Tango No Sekku or the present’ day Children’s Day with traditional cape kites also flown during the holiday.

From 1922, Children’s Day is celebrated on May 1 but it moved to May 5 on 1946. It gained its public holiday status on 1975.
South Korea Children’s Day: Traditions, Customs and Activities

Since the holiday is a work-free day, parents take their children to the movies, amusement parks, zoos, or other child-friendly places to satisfy the wishes of their children. Gift-giving is also a common practice during the holidays; something that children always look forward to every year.