Valentine’s Day, White Day & The 13 Other Romantic Holidays In Korea

Did you know there are fifteen couples holidays in Korea? If you’re dating in Korea or get into a relationship with a Korean, you might just want to know when to get all romantic. Valentine’s Day is the day that people around the world know about, but there are plenty of other days on the calendars of Korean couples where they can profess their love, smooch it up, or just do something together.

From the official celebrations to the unofficial Korean holidays, here’s when they are and what you should do if you want to celebrate in Korea… or just Korean style.

Here are the unofficial (and some official) holidays in Korea and how to celebrate them couple style:

• 100 Days
• Christmas
• Pepero Day: November 11
• Diary Day: January 14
• Valentine’s Day: February 14
• White Day: March 14
• Black Day: April 14
• Yellow Day/Rose Day: May 14
• Kiss Day: June 14
• Silver Day: July 14
• Green Day: August 14
• Photo Day: September 14
• Wine Day: October 14
• Movie Day: November 14
• Hug Day: December 14

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100 Days

While this celebration may be more common among the younger couples much like young western couples count days and then weeks instead of years, it’s still a fairly common thing for people into their 20s as well.

Couples celebrate their first 100 days by exchanging gifts, often the male expected to spend exorbitantly, and couple rings may be swapped. While in the west couples don’t often have rings until they are engaged or married, in Korea, couples often have rings when they’re dating. To go all out, some couples even make their own special rings. What would you put on a ring with your significant other?

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Christmas

Reversing the western trend of family togetherness over Christmas and couple love on New Years, Christmas is all about the couple in Korea. Restaurants around the city get a transformation and tables for two are set up and special menus just for the duo are available.

Christmas Eve is especially popular as a date night so be aware when you’re out for the night there may be “Christmas Eve” specials specifically for the couples among you.

If you’re a western group of friends looking to go out in style but celebrating together, head to some expat friendly areas or you’ll be shunned down the street as restaurants just don’t want to push their tables together for your “orphaned family” Christmas holiday.

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November 11: Pepero Day

Pepero Day comes from another ultra savvy campaign to get people to show their “affection” for each other. Originally, the day was an opportunity to exchange these skinny chocolate covered sticks saying, “I hope you become taller and thinner.” After all, who doesn’t want to inadvertently tell friends and loved ones they’re short and fat?

When I first came to Korea, people told me this was a holiday for singles to get the sweetums because they’re shaped like ones (November 11 aka 11/11)  so obviously it’s for that solo guy and gal, but these days couples have swooped in and want the chocolate loving too though my husband still swears it’s for the singles and I shouldn’t want to receive any Pepero.

Whether you think this holiday is for the singles or for the couples doesn’t really matter, the Lotte Corporation is making bank so they won this round of “holidays that never existed but do now because a company convinced everyone it’s a thing”. Here are 12 things you should know about Pepero Day if you want to learn more.

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Next up, the 12 days of couple love in Korea: When Valentine’s Day came to Korea in the 1980s, who knew it would have such an effect on couples as to start a 14th unofficial couples holiday extravaganza?

Each month, there is now some sort of event to show you’re either in love with someone or you’re a lone wolf without a companion.

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January 14th: Diary Day

On Diary Day, couples swap cutesy yearly planners/diaries that they purchased at one of the numerous stationary stores around town. Inside, they’ve marked birthdays, anniversaries and other special days so that no one ends up on the receiving end of a “…so you mean to tell me you didn’t remember that today was the anniversary of the first time that we ever ate spaghetti together?” line of questioning. Okay, maybe couples here aren’t that specific, but you know some are. This is a great idea to get started as a couple on the right foot.

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February 14th: Valentine’s Day

The day from which all others came. It’s basically the same as Valentine’s around the world, except that in Korea, only the women are expected to hand over gifts of chocolate and other romantic paraphernalia to the men. Guys can sit back and relax as they are showered with affection.

If couples are smart and cost-weary though, they might wait a couple days, stock up on all of the “for sale” chocolate and then celebrate instead. The sales don’t last long though because just a month later is another sweet treat giving holiday so get those flowers at cost as fast as you can.

Want to learn more about gifting etiquette in Korea? Make sure you’re prepared, here are 12 things to do on Valentine’s Day in Seoul.

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March 14th: White Day

While February was all about the guys, now it’s time for the girls to be on the receiving end. Rather than chocolate though, guys stock up on candy, jewelry and flowers to show how much they love their partner and to make that big gesture. Don’t want to wait for a guy to give you a gift? Klook has plenty of experiences so you can make your own. Join their jewelry making experience for something unique and to your own taste.

Since Valentine’s Day is just a month prior, you can bet the lovey dovey sales and marketing ploys will be in full swing from February through March so if you’re smart, you might just wait for all of the sales before next month’s Black Day which celebrates just the opposite.

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April 14th: Black Day

Come spring, the flowers are blooming the skies are blue and the breezes are warming up but the single guy has just gone through three months of couples this and couples that and candy and chocolate sales from here to the moon.

On Black Day, the single guy and gal, possibly dressing up from head to toe in black attire, will head down to the local Chinese restaurant to grab a meal of jjajangmyeon, or black noodles. Single friends get together to console each other or rejoice in their independence depending on how glass half full or half empty they are. If you want to learn more about jjajangmyeong and to eat this local specialty where it was developed, head out to Incheon’s Chinatown for a treat on this special day of the year.

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May 14th: Yellow Day/ Rose Day

This holiday is for everyone. Couples dress up in their cutest, probably matching, yellow attire from head to toe, meet up and swap roses because dressing in matchy matchy clothing isn’t enough to make the day special.

Their single counterparts once again head to a nearby restaurant to mourn, or rejoice, by eating yellow curry hoping that it may somehow “spice up” their life. Apparently, if you’re single the only activity appropriate is eating… at least that’s what I’ve learned after studying all of these holidays and the activities that go along with them.

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June 14th: Kiss Day

While this holiday is said to have originally been for the couple to get together and make out, now singles are taking it over and suggesting hey, can’t we all just kiss each other? Some people now purport that you should kiss everyone you meet that day, if in the single state of mind. Breath mint and gum companies, lipstick companies and any other lip centered brand has promotions to get those smackers in the perfectly kissable state for either the couple or the solo traveler.

If you want to head somewhere rather romantic on this day, check out going up to N Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower) known as a pretty romantic area in the city or go down to Yeouido to take a ride on the ELand Cruise in the evening when the lights begin to twinkle in the city.

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July 14th: Silver Day

If you’ve got a special someone, then today is the day that you swap silver accessories most likely of the couple ring sort. No, this doesn’t mean you get engaged. Korean couples like to proclaim their love while dating by wearing a ring and why the hell not? They’re probably not holding hands in public or hugging, so at least that ring tells all of those other interested folks to walk away.

For the single guy or gal, why not take this day to treat yourself. While this may not be common, I’m all about treating myself and I’m here to tell you, it’s awesome. Head on over to that silver shop and buy a ring, a bracelet, some earrings, cuff links, whatever catches your fancy. Or if you don’t feel like you need an extra thing to carry around, head to one of the numerous spas around the city to pamper yourself. You deserve it for putting up with all of these couples holidays.

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August 14th: Green Day

Another holiday for all to enjoy in their own special way. Couples meet up and head to a nice green natural outdoor location, relax and enjoy each other’s company. You might check out the new Botanical Garden in Seoul or head to my favorite park, World Cup Park. 

Singles go a completely different route and grab that ubiquitous green soju bottle that is never very far from one’s reach. The single gal pals and guys meet up, get plastered and pat themselves on the back for making Green Day all about themselves and I’m sure the soju companies aren’t hating this take on the “holiday”.

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September 14th: Photo Day

As if couples, singles and everyone in between aren’t already taking enough selfies, now we’ve got a day all about them. Couples find their local photo booth, put on wigs and other accessories and get some pictures together or go legit and head to an actual photo studio to get some professional shots done so that they can share these lovey-dovey photos on all of their social media outlets.

Again, solo travelers, don’t be afraid to jump on in there: take your cat or dog to the local photo booth, or just head in there in your best Halloween costume and have some fun with it. Photo Day may be about the couples, but can’t we all just have fun?

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October 14th: Wine Day

The wine companies wanted to get in on the action and geared toward the age appropriate couples, now they have a day too. Drink wine… enough said. If you’re in Seoul though, definitely check out the foreign owned Vineworks in the Sangsu/Hongdae area. It’s a great spot for wining and dining.

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November 14th: Movie Day

Another obvious one. If you don’t want to awkwardly sit in a movie theater with tons of couples, don’t go to the movies on November 14th. If you think it’d be funny to buy an odd number of seats sporadically throughout the theater though so that couples can’t sit together easily, then have at it. Theaters and Movie Rooms will be pretty packed on this day so just keep this holiday in mind if a new movie came out that you want to see.

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December 14th: Hug Day

Having run out of ideas, December 14th has become known as Hug Day when you should wrap your arms around that special someone to keep them warm and the chills away. If you’re single, head to Myeongdong because there’s always someone with a “Free Hugs” sign there and you can get in on the action too. Who do you want to hug?

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These are the 12 unofficial couples holidays and a few more because Koreans in the couple state of mind just love to have something to look forward to each month. Which day would you look forward to the most?

Check out Funny Stories From Dating A Korean Man

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