THE DAY OF OPENING OF THE SKY

The National Foundation Day of Korea or Gaecheonjeol celebrates the establishment of Gojoseon, the first Korean state, in 2333 BC. Legend has it that the god Hwan-in sent his son Hwan-ung to the Earth to benefit all mankind. Dan-gun, the son of Hwan-ung, established the kingdom of Gojoseon in the area of the Korean Peninsula, which lasted for more than 2000 years.

Later, in the 1900s, the Korean people started to celebrate the founding of this ancient kingdom on the third day of the 10th month of the lunar calendar. They considered this day to be one of the most auspicious days of the year marked by a bountiful harvest. Gaecheonjeol was first celebrated in public in 1909, institutionalized as a national holiday on the third of October since 1949, and has since become one of Korea’s five national holidays designated by the government, along with Independence Declaration Day on March 1, Liberation Day on August 15, Constitution Day on July 17, and Hangeul (Korean alphabet) Day on October 9.

“Gaecheonjeol” literally means “the day of opening of the sky.” Koreans commemorate this day as the beginning of the Korean nation’s history. The idea behind the legend of “benefiting all mankind,” which is similar to humanitarianism, is still very much alive as a principle of education in Korea.

Korea’s modern history underwent much challenges and ordeals as it experienced foreign rule and the division of the nation. In 1948, the Republic of Korea was established, but two years later, the Korean War erupted, which led to the death and destruction of property of many Koreans, and brought immense hardship to the country.

In the wake of the war, Korea rebuilt its economy in what has come to be known as the “Miracle on the Han River.” Korea also achieved a thriving democracy and has successfully transformed itself into a first-world state.