May is a special month in Korea, with two family-centered holidays falling just days apart. The first of these, Children's Day (어린이날), is celebrated on May 5 and is a national public holiday dedicated entirely to children and family time.
Children's Day was first declared in 1923 by Bang Jeong-hwan, an advocate for children's rights who believed children deserved to be treated as full human beings. It became an official public holiday in 1970. Today, schools and businesses are closed, and families spend the day together visiting amusement parks, zoos, and parks, with children receiving gifts from their parents. Theme parks and cinemas often offer special discounts on this day.
Together with Parents' Day on May 8, Children's Day is part of what Koreans call the "Month of Family," a time that reflects the importance placed on family bonds and the mutual respect between generations that lies at the heart of Korean culture.
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