Children's Day

Children’s Day in South Korea, known as Eorininal (어린이날), is observed every year on May 5; in 2026, it falls on Tuesday, May 5. The holiday honors children and promotes the idea that they deserve protection, respect, education, happiness, and opportunities to develop freely. It is one of South Korea’s major national public holidays and forms part of the spring holiday calendar alongside Family Month celebrations in May.

The origins of Eorininal are closely associated with children’s rights advocate and writer Bang Jeong-hwan, who helped popularize the modern Korean term eorini, meaning “child,” and organized an early Children’s Day observance in 1923. The first celebration was held on May 1 during the Japanese colonial period, when cultural leaders sought to improve children’s welfare and encourage national identity through education and literature. After liberation, the observance was moved to May 5 in 1946, and Children’s Day became an official public holiday in 1975. Its modern meaning combines Bang Jeong-hwan’s child-centered ideals with contemporary attention to safety, equality, mental well-being, and children’s rights.

Families traditionally celebrate Children’s Day by taking children on outings to amusement parks, zoos, museums, science centers, aquariums, children’s theaters, and cultural festivals. Parents and relatives often give toys, books, clothing, sports equipment, or small gifts, while schools, local governments, and businesses organize performances, hands-on activities, contests, and free or discounted admission. Because May 5 is a public holiday, popular attractions and family restaurants can be especially crowded, and many families plan day trips or short vacations around the date.

There is no single required Children’s Day food, but families commonly share restaurant meals, picnic lunches, ice cream, cake, snacks, and children’s favorite dishes. Parents may express affection with greetings such as “어린이날 축하해!” (Eorininal chukahae!, “Happy Children’s Day!”) or “행복한 어린이날 보내!” (“Have a happy Children’s Day!”). Schools and civic organizations also use the occasion to emphasize kindness, child safety, inclusiveness, and the importance of listening to children, reflecting the holiday’s development from an early children’s-rights campaign into a nationwide family and welfare celebration.