Saint Valentine's Day(情人节) 在 🇰🇷 韩国

South Korea has transformed Valentine's Day into an elaborate monthly celebration of love. Similar to Japan, February 14 is when women give chocolate and gifts to men. The tradition of honmei and giri chocolate exists here too, though Koreans have added their own twist with a stronger emphasis on couples culture. Korean confectionery brands like Lotte and Haitai release special Valentine's collections each year.

White Day on March 14 sees men reciprocating with candy, flowers, and often more expensive gifts. But Korea goes further with Black Day on April 14, when single people who received nothing on either Valentine's Day or White Day gather to eat jajangmyeon, black bean noodles, commiserating over their single status. This uniquely Korean tradition has spawned an entire calendar of love-themed days on the 14th of each month.

Korean couples celebrate with matching outfits, couple rings, and elaborate date plans. Popular Valentine's activities include visiting themed cafes, going to Namsan Tower in Seoul to attach love locks, and exchanging carefully curated gift baskets. The Korean beauty industry also capitalizes on the holiday, with cosmetics and skincare sets marketed as Valentine's gifts.

The commercial aspect is enormous, with department stores, convenience stores, and online platforms competing fiercely for Valentine's spending. Korean convenience stores like CU, GS25, and 7-Eleven stock special Valentine's chocolate sets at accessible price points, making the holiday inclusive across all budgets. K-drama and K-pop culture have further amplified Valentine's Day traditions, with fan communities organizing special events around their favorite celebrities.

Annual celebration of romantic love on February 14 with the exchange of cards, flowers, chocolates, and gifts between partners, rooted in both Christian tradition and medieval courtly love poetry.