National Foundation Day

🎉 🇰🇷 South Korea • October 3, 2026

Days off: 1 days • Falls on Saturday

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National Foundation Day — holiday, South Korea (October 3, 2026)

National Foundation Day Description

National Foundation Day (개천절, Gaecheonjeol) on October 3rd commemorates the legendary founding of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, by the deity-king Dangun in 2333 BCE. According to Korean mythology, Dangun was the grandson of Hwanin (the Lord of Heaven) who descended to Earth and established Gojoseon on this date. An official ceremony is held at the Dangun shrine in Seoul's Sajik Park and at Chamseongdan altar on Mount Manisan, Ganghwado Island. Government offices, banks, post offices, and schools close. It is a day of national pride but generally observed with less public festivity than Liberation Day. In 2026, October 3rd falls on a Saturday, so many workers will already be off — a substitute holiday is not designated when it falls on a weekend. Cultural institutions may hold special lectures or exhibitions about Korean ancient history. The Dangun-related sites see increased visitors on this day. Most retail businesses and restaurants remain open. Hiking trails on mountains with historical significance, such as Mount Taebaek, are popular destinations.

📜 History & Origins

Gaecheonjeol — 'Festival of the Opening of Heaven' — commemorates the founding of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, by the legendary Dangun Wanggeom in 2333 BCE. According to the Samguk Yusa (1281), Dangun was the grandson of Hwanin, the Lord of Heaven. His father Hwanung descended from heaven to Mount Paektu and established the City of God; Dangun was born of Hwanung and a bear-turned-woman (Ungnyeo) and founded Gojoseon, beginning the Korean people. The legend gave Korea its founding myth of a single nation from common ancestry. Gaecheonjeol was made a public holiday in 1953.

🎉 How It's Celebrated

The official ceremony is held at the Dangun shrine (Dangunjeong) in Seoul's Sajik Park, attended by political leaders, and at the Chamseongdan altar atop Mount Manisan on Ganghwado Island, where Dangun is said to have offered sacrifices to heaven. Koreans display the Taegeukgi national flag on homes and public buildings. Cultural and educational institutions hold lectures, exhibitions, and performances on ancient Korean history, and the foundation myth is taught and discussed. Mountain hiking — particularly to Mount Manisan, Mount Taebaek, and Mount Samseak — is popular, as Gaecheonjeol connects to the historic Dangun ritual in folk practice.

🍽️ Traditional Foods

Gaecheonjeol has no widely observed festive foods, but ceremonial foods play a central role at Dangun shrines and the Chamseongdan altar, where offerings of rice, millet, chestnuts, jujubes, and traditional rice wine are presented to Dangun's spirit. Some households prepare dishes made with millet and nuts in homage to the foods Dangun's mother Ungnyeo (the bear-woman) is said to have eaten — mugwort (ssuk) and garlic — during her transformation. Restaurants operate normally with no special holiday menus.

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