Hello everyone~ 😊

Next Thursday is National Foundation Day in Korea. Do you know what kind of holiday National Foundation Day is? Today, I will introduce you to National Foundation Day!

1️⃣ Introduction to National Foundation Day

National Foundation Day is celebrated on October 3rd every year. This day commemorates the founding of Gojoseon by Dangun Wanggeom in 2333 BC, and symbolizes the history and roots of the Korean people.

2️⃣ The historical origin of Gaecheonjeol

Next, I will introduce the historical origins of Gaecheonjeol. The origins of Cheonjeol are largely related to three major events.

The first is the descent of Hwanung. Hwanung, the son of Hwanin (god of heaven), came down from heaven to earth, wishing to rule over the human world. He came down under the Shindansu tree on Taebaeksan Mountain with 3,000 subjects and began to rule over the human world. This is expressed as 'Gaecheon (開天)', meaning 'heaven opened'.

The second is the founding of Dangun. After Hwanung came down to earth, there is a story about a bear and a tiger praying to become human. The bear, following Hwanung’s teachings, ate only mugwort and garlic for 100 days and became human, and he became Ungnyeo (熊女). Ungnyeo married Hwanung and gave birth to a son, who was Dangun Wanggeom. Dangun is said to have founded Gojoseon in 2333 BC, the first nation in Korea.

Lastly, the establishment of Gaecheonjeol. Gaecheonjeol was first established in 1909 during the Japanese colonial period under the name of 'Gaecheon Daeje', and was later designated as a national holiday after the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948. Its meaning is not simply a mythical story, but has become established as a day to commemorate the roots and historical pride of the Korean people.

Many people know that Gaecheonjeol is a public holiday, but many do not know its meaning and historical origins. Today, I will introduce the meaning and historical background of Gaecheonjeol in Korea.

I hope you all have a great National Foundation Day holiday next week~!