Foundation Day commemorates the legendary founding of Gojoseon by Dangun in 2333 BCE. Revived by Korean nationalists during Japanese rule and made a national holiday in 1949, it remains a day of pride, unity, and remembrance of Korea's ancient origins.

When is Foundation Day?

Foundation Day in South Korea is celebrated on October 3 each year.

The following is the list of Foundation Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Foundation Day?

According to legend, Dangun Wanggeom (단군왕검), the grandson of heaven, founded the first Korean kingdom, Gojoseon, in 2333 BCE. The myth begins with Hwanin (a heavenly god) sending his son Hwanung to earth.

A bear and a tiger wished to become human. Hwanung told them to stay in a cave, eating only garlic and mugwort for 100 days. The tiger gave up, but the bear succeeded and became a woman. She later bore a son, Dangun, who founded Gojoseon. The story symbolizes the divine origin of the Korean people and their harmony with heaven, earth, and nature.

Gojoseon's foundation was remembered in Korean folklore as the nation's beginning from the ancient Times.

In the early 20th century, the Daejonggyo nationalist religious movement, devoted to Dangun, promoted October 3 as the founding day of Korea, calling it Gaecheonjeol ("the day heaven opened").

In 1909, under Japanese colonial rule, Korean nationalists emphasized the holiday to strengthen identity and resist assimilation.

In 1945 (Post-liberation), after independence from Japan, October 3 was revived as a cultural and patriotic celebration.

In 1949, the South Korean government officially designated October 3 as National Foundation Day, honoring both Korea's mythical beginnings and its long historical continuity.

Today, Foundation Day is held annually, often in Seoul, with government officials and citizens commemorating Dangun's legacy.