Like most Western countries, Korea celebrates Valentine’s Day as a big romantic holiday on Feb. 14, albeit with a Korean twist.

Here in Korea, it’s women who gift men chocolate and gifts on Valentine’s Day. The unofficial holiday isn’t only for couples as it’s also a day for single women to be brave and confess their feelings to their crush. At middle and high schools, girls also use the day as an excuse to make a love confession to their crushes.

It’s true that Valentine’s Day is the start of many couples’ love stories.

One month later, on March 14, it’s the men’s turn to break out the sweets and charm on White Day. This reciprocal holiday was actually an invention by a confectionary company in Japan decades ago to sell more sweets. The custom has since spread to other East Asian countries.

Both romantic holidays stir up big celebrations in Korea. Most stores have large displays of chocolates, candies, other sweets and flowers. You’ll see plenty of businesses targeting customers with special products as these holidays approach.

Forever alone in April

If, despite the first two romantic days of the year, you still find yourself alone, then Black Day on April 14 is for you.

It’s called Black Day because it’s a depressing day where lonely singles are meant to gather in black attire, eat black bean sauce noodles (jjajang-myeon 짜장면) and drink Americano coffees.

This day is for those who were not successful in finding a boyfriend or girlfriend. Koreans tend to see being single as a sad and depressing thing. Some businesses hold events to invite singles to eat black bean sauce noodles together. Lonely singles attend the event in hopes of finding their match among other lonely singles.

Love celebrated monthly

Though Valentine’s Day and White Day are big in Korea, the celebration of love is taken a step further with other romantically-related holidays on the 14th of every month.

In an ideal world, singles have coupled up by April 14, so the rest of the holidays are to celebrate being a couple in love!

• May 14 – Rose Day: A day to give a bouquet of roses to your partner.

• June 14 – Kiss Day: A day to kiss your partner to express affection.

• July 14 – Silver Day: A day to exchange “couple rings,” which are silver rings and a symbol of commitment.

• Aug. 14 – Green Day: This is a day to pack a picnic and drink Korean alcoholic drinks together.

• Sept. 14 – Photo Day: A day to take nice photos together.

• Oct. 14 – Wine Day: A day to drink red wine together.

• Nov. 14 – Movie Day: A day to watch a good movie together.

• Dec. 14 – Hug Day: A day to give your partner a warm embrace in the chilly winter.

• Jan. 14 – Diary Day: To make a plan for the new year together, couples exchange a yearly planner.

Another unofficial and commercial holiday is Pepero Day on Nov. 11. Pepero is a popular snack of thin cookie sticks that look like the number one, so four together form 11/11 or Nov. 11 on the calendar. On Nov. 11, Pepero packs are given to friends and family.

Though the 12 Korean love holidays make it seem like Koreans are keen about celebrating couples, you don’t need to worry if you’re single! Besides Valentine’s Day, White Day, and Pepero Day, the other love holidays are in fact minor holidays that most Koreans don’t celebrate.

In any culture, expressing love for someone is significant matter because everyone wants to love and be loved. I think it’s a cute that the 12 love holidays show that Korean’s wish to make every month special with their partner.

DATING CULTURE

As Korea’s 12 love holidays show, love is a great interest in Korean society.

The dating culture here is a bit different than what Americans are used to. While you might find many young Koreans are more westernized, most still follow local dating manners.

If you’re dating a Korean, you should know some basic manners and etiquette to follow. Here are the six interesting facts of the Korean dating culture that are fun and helpful to know.

1. Romantic holidays/anniversaries

There are important romantic holidays that couples celebrate by giving nice gifts and enjoying a romantic date: Christmas, Valentine Day, White Day, year anniversary and 100 days anniversary.

The 100 days anniversary is a big event for couples in Korea. Many couples even celebrate every 100 days they’ve been together plus the yearly anniversaries.

Not all Koreans find celebrating anniversaries important, so ask your partner what they expect.

2. Make it official

If you want to keep dating, it’s important to make it official. Koreans count 100 days from the day you officially become a couple, so it’s important to ask your partner to be your boyfriend/girlfriend.

After between three to five dates, if a person, usually the guy, doesn’t ask their date to make it official, the other will see it as a huge red flag and think it isn’t going to work out.

Many Americans tend to keep dating lightly at first and build a connection as they get to know each other. However, most Koreans like to secure the commitment first, then learn about each other and build intimacy while officially dating. Trying to convince a Korean partner to “slowly get to know each other, then see where it goes” won’t work most of the time because Koreans hate ambiguous relationships.

3. Saying ‘I love you’ too soon

You may be surprised when your Korean partner says “I love you” sooner than you expect. Because most Koreans usually decide to commit to their partner at an early stage of dating, it’s natural to say “I love you” to each other.

Also, in Korean culture, there is a term called “Aegyo (애교),” which is a display of affection through behaviors, talking, voice, and facial expression in a very sweet and cute way. Aegyo is a way to be flirtatious in Korean dating culture. So, when your partner says “I love you” too soon while displaying Aegyo (애교), it’s just a way to be sweet.

4. Two of a kind

Couples often shop together on romantic holidays and buy matching shoes, clothes and accessories. It is especially common for young couples to wear couple rings without plans to wed. Wearing a couple ring is a symbol of commitment as a couple and usually is bought on the 100-day anniversary or one-year anniversary.

5. Parents’ opinion matters

Most Koreans introduce their partner to their parents only when they are in a serious relationship that is leading to marriage. Parents’ opinion can greatly affect the relationship since the majority of Koreans believe marriage isn’t just the union of two people but of two families.

6. Texting all the time

Koreans are huge fans of texting and being glued to their smartphone, but it gets even worse when they are in a relationship. Being able to keep in touch and text back quickly is one of the important traits many Koreans expect from their partner. Your Korean partner possibly wants to know every single move you make in a day. Many Koreans see being more closely related to a partner’s life and sharing a daily life as a significant way of expressing love.

SPEAKIN’ KOREAN

Useful Korean phrases for love

• Joahae(좋아해): I like you / I like that

• Saranghae (사랑해): I love you / I love that

• Sarang(사랑): Love

• Ha-tuh (하트) / Simjang-organ (심장): Heart

• Aegyo (애교): a cute display of affection toward a partner, friends, family

Useful Korean phrases for dating

• Date (데이트): Dating / Going out

• Date sincheong-hada (데이트 신청하다): To ask a person out for a date

• Gobaek-hada (고백하다): To ask a person out (to be in a relationship) / To confess

• Sagwi-da (사귀다): To be boyfriend/girlfriend with / To date

• Yeoja/Namja-chingu isseoyo? (여자/남자친구 있어요?): Do you have a girl/boyfriend?

• Uri Sagwija (우리 사귀자): Let’s make it official (*informal)

• Na-rang Sagwillae-yo?:(나랑 사귈래요?): Would you be my boy/girlfriend? (*formal)

Titles

• Aein (애인) / Yeonin (연인): Lover / Partner / Girlfriend/ Boyfriend

• Yeoja-chingu (여자친구): Girlfriend

• Namja-chingu (남자친구): Boyfriend

• Yeoja (여자): Girl / Woman

• Namja (남자): Guy / Man

• Friend (친구): Chingu

• Oppa (오빠): A honorific title that women call older men and is often used to present Aegyo to their older boyfriend. 

• Jagi (자기) / Yeobo (여보): Honey/ Boo / Sweetheart

• Aegi (애기): Baby / Boo (The way to call a younger girlfriend very affectionately)

*Try to put “ya” behind of those words: Jagi-ya, Aegi-ya

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