Coming-of-Age Day (Korea)

Get inspiration for parents!

Subscribe for parenting tips, family money advice, baby names and more

Subscribe

Where is Coming-Of-Age Day celebrated?  

People of South Korea celebrate Coming-Of-Age Day. However, many other countries also celebrate a similar ceremony, such as Japan and Israel.

Who is Coming-Of-Age Day celebrated by?

Coming-Of-Age Day is a family event. All the young adults who have recently reached or will soon reach the age of 19 celebrate this day. Often, parents also throw parties for their children to celebrate this ceremony.

When did Coming-Of-Age Day first start?

The origin of Coming-Of-Age Day dates back to the year 965. According to the first records of this ceremony, it came from an event organized for the crown prince during the reign of King Gwangjong (Goryeo dynasty). Officially, the people of South Korea celebrated Coming-Of-Age Day as a national event on April 20, 1973. It was later shifted to be celebrated on every third Monday of May.

Who started Coming-Of-Age Day?

In 1973, the government of South Korea officially established this national event.

History And Timeline

The Coming-Of-Age ceremony has seen a lot of changes. Here, we will discuss the history and timeline of this famous event.

Traditions And Customs

Coming-Of-Age Day is one of the most famous traditional ceremonies in South Korea. On this day, the whole country celebrates all those young adults who have recently become or will soon become 19 years old. Through the celebration of this event, parents congratulate their children and help them realize that they have entered or soon will enter adulthood. Generally, young people wear traditional dress on this day. Boys also put on a traditional hat named gat, and girls don a traditional hairstyle named Jjok-jin-meori.

Apart from South Korea, Coming-Of-Age Day is also a public event in Japan. Here, people observe this holiday on the second Monday of every January.

In the United States, people celebrate a similar event as well. The Americans call it Citizenship Day. In the United States, children become adults once they reach the age of 18. This age is important because it bestows upon them the right to vote. However, the people of the US celebrate another Coming-Of-Age ceremony when children become 16 years old. This is an unofficial event, and it goes by the name of Sweet 16. This age is also significant in the US because, after 16, you can apply for a driving license and get a job.

Ways To Celebrate Coming-Of-Age Day

Celebrating Coming-Of-Age Day with family is one of the best ways to observe this event. Your parents have been watching you since the day you were born. Now, you have entered adulthood. Hence, this event bears a special significance for them. It will be great if you stay at home and celebrate the day with your family. You can also throw a party and invite some of your close friends. This day will come only once in your lifetime, so make it memorable.

Many organizations hold talk shows on this day. You can attend them and share some of the crucial experiences of your life. It will be a great way to make your Coming-Of-Age Day special and memorable.

If any of your friends or siblings just reached or is about to reach the age of maturity, then give them some gifts to make them feel special. You can give them perfumes or roses. You can also give them handmade cards. Finally, do not forget to post something nice on social media. This way, you can inform others about this famous event and also encourage them to celebrate it.

Facts And Stats

• Doosan Encyclopedia claims that the Coming-Of-Age ceremony existed before the Goryeo dynasty. Back then, whenever young people became adults, people used to announce this happy news through a custom ritual. This ritual required adult boys to wear gats, while girls used to don Jjok-jin-meori, a traditional hairdo.
• In South Korea, the ceremony became a national event in 1973. The people of the country first celebrated this holiday (officially) on April 20, 1973.
• Those boys and girls who were born in 2004 will celebrate Coming-Of-Age Day on May 15, 2023.

FAQs About Coming-of-Age Day (Korea)

Hashtags To Use On Social Media

When Is This Day Celebrated