The Korean way to celebrate Valentine's Day

*본 글은 영어 미숙련자가 영어 학습과 영작 연습을 위해 쓰고 올리는 포스트 입니다. 여러 부분에서 어법에 맞지 않거나 자연스럽지 않은 표현들이 포함되어 있을 수 있으니, 영문법이나 영어 표현법을 참고하는데 활용하지 않도록 당부드립니다.

---

There are some special days from Western cultures in Korea. 

But these days are a bit different from what you think, depending on how they was introduced to Korea.

 

Valentine's Day is thought to have been spread to Korea through Japan because It is known in Korea as a day when a woman courageously gives chocolate and ask for being her boyfriend to a man she like, and that is Japanese Valentine's Day culture.

It is known that the beginning of this culture started with the promotion of Japanese confectionery companies. 

 

And then, a Japanese confectioner promoted to make March 14 as White Day that is considered the day when men present candies to women. The White Day is also only in Korea and Japan.

 

Later, Korean young people started to make and enjoy Black Day when singles who were not told to go out on Valentine's Day and White Day ate jjajangmyeon(짜장면). It's April 14th.

Later again, Rose Day when exchange roses on May 14th was created. And adolescent students kept making 14th days for various reasons. the list is known as Korean 14th Days,(but only few people had been interested in the list.)

In a similar way, Pepero Day(빼빼로데이) is suddenly appeared in the 1990s as a day to present Pepero(빼빼로), a stick-shaped snack. It is the day when Lotte sells 50 percent of its Pepero sales in a year.

 

In the days leading up to Valentine's Day, baskets of various pretty packaged chocolates were displayed at convenience stores and bakeries, and were sold at high prices including dolls and flowers decorations.

Contrary to its original meaning, it turned into a very commercial day. It seems that more and more people are not enjoying this culture. So, in recent years, the scale of celebrating seems to be getting smaller. The size and quantity of chocolate baskets displayed at stores seems to have decreased, too. 

In Korea, you can see many women giving cheap and simple chocolate snacks to their family or colleagues on Valentine's Day without much meaning.

 

Although Valentine's Day exists in Korea, it may be disappointing you because it’s different from your expectations.

Right. Korean men don't think it's the day for giving presents or flowers to women mostly.

 

Even though I don't like Korean way to celebrate Valentine's Day much but I still like Black Day!

On every April 14th, you all have to go eat jjajangmyeon(짜장면), AS I DO, always!😎

 

 

 

 

*I am not a fluent English speaker. I am a Korean who is practicing English writing at the level I can to improve my English skills. Please consider the awkward English expressions. And if you suggest better expressions or corrections, I would be grateful to revise the article.

The English contents of this blog mainly introduces Korean culture, history, social phenomena, and tourist information. This is only a personal blogger's opinion, so I recommend you to search further if you need expert information.