February—ah, the month of love! While Valentine’s Day on February 14 is widely celebrated as a day of romance in the West, South Korea takes romantic celebrations to another level with unique traditions observed throughout the year. Not only do couples have special days to express their affection, but even singles get a dedicated day to celebrate in their own way.
1. Valentine’s Day (발렌타인 데이)
In South Korea, February 14, Valentine’s Day is all about women taking the initiative. Unlike in many other countries where both partners exchange gifts, here, women traditionally give chocolates, flowers, and other presents to men as a token of their love and admiration. This unique twist makes Valentine’s Day a special occasion for men to receive heartfelt gestures from their significant others.
2. White Day (화이트 데이)
One month later, it’s time for the men to return the favor! White Day, aka the reverse Valentine’s Day, celebrated on March 14, is when men express their appreciation by gifting women chocolates, flowers, and other presents—traditionally in white-themed packaging. However, sticking to white is no longer necessary.
There’s also an unwritten “rule of three,” meaning that the value of the gifts men give should be at least three times what they received on Valentine’s Day. While it is not practiced or widely expected, men tend to often abide by the rule of three as a rough guide for reciprocal gifting. This day ensures that love and gratitude are equally reciprocated in Korean romance culture.
3. Black Day (블랙 데이)
Now, let’s not forget about the singles! April 14 marks Black Day, a unique celebration for those who didn’t receive gifts on Valentine’s or White Day. On this day, single people gather with friends to eat jjajangmyeon (짜장면), a popular Korean noodle dish with black bean sauce. Some people go all out and dress in all black to celebrate the day. This fun and lighthearted tradition brings singles together to embrace their singlehood, enjoy good food, and bond over shared experiences.
While these are the three major holidays meant for couples and single, there are other special days observed throughout the year every month on the 14th to commemorate love. While January 14 is Diary Day, May 14 is Rose Day. Similarly, June 14 marks Kiss Day, October 14 is Wine Day, December 14 is Hug Day, and so on. Beyond these days, couples in South Korea also celebrate relationship milestones like 100-day anniversary, 200-day anniversary, and more.
Written by – Aanchal Pathak
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