Korea National Foundation Day

Korea National Foundation Day

October 3

This national holiday in the Republic of Korea (South Korea), also known as Tangun Day and Gaecheon-jeol, commemorates the legendary founding of the Korean nation in 2333 b.c.e. by Tangun.
Prince Hwan-ung left heaven to rule earth from Mt. T'aebaek. In his kingdom were a bear and a tiger who wished to become humans. Hwan-ung told them that if they remained in a cave for 100 days eating nothing but mugwort and garlic, they would become like people. The tiger got bored, but the bear lasted it out and became a beautiful woman. She and Hwan-ung bore a son called Tangun Wanggom, meaning Sandalwood King. When he grew up, he built his own city at the present site of P'yongyang (now the capital of North Korea) and called his new kingdom Choson, meaning "morning freshness" or "morning calm." The book Samguk Yusa, written in 1289, records this story. The myth is important in that it links the Korean people with a heavenly origin.
The holiday is celebrated with ceremonies at the ancient rock altar of Tangun, on the summit of Mt. Mani on Kanghwa Island, about 25 miles west of Seoul.

CONTACTS:
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
2320 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
202-939-5663; fax: 202-342-1597
www.dynamic-korea.com

SOURCES:
AnnCustKorea-1983, p. 145
AnnivHol-2000, p. 167
(c)

Celebration day: Oct 3