Children's Day in South Korea was created by Bang Jeong-hwan in 1923, and declared a national holiday in 1975. Today, it is marked by family celebrations, gifts, and cultural events, symbolizing both joy and the importance of children's rights.

When is Children's Day?

Children's Day in South Korea is celebrated every year on May 5.

The following is the list of Children's Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Children's Day?

Children's Day was first proposed in the 1920s by Bang Jeong-hwan (방정환), a children's rights activist, writer and educator.

At that time, Korea was under Japanese colonial rule (1910–1945), and Bang wanted to improve respect for children, who were often treated as "miniature adults" rather than individuals with rights.

In 1923, Bang and other members of the Saekdonghoe (Association of the Rainbow Colors), a youth movement, declared May 1 as the first Children's Day in Korea.

The colonial authorities viewed the movement as potentially nationalist and subversive, since it encouraged Koreans to see children as future leaders of an independent nation.

As a result, by the 1930s, public celebrations of Children's Day were banned under Japanese rule. After Korea's liberation in 1945, Children's Day was revived.

In 1946, the holiday was officially reintroduced, this time on May 5 (instead of May 1), to avoid overlap with International Labour Day.

In 1975, the South Korean government officially designated May 5 as a national holiday.

Children's Day is not just a fun holiday but also a reminder of children's dignity, rights and role as the nation's future.