20 year-old South Koreans celebrate coming of age
Arirang News
2018-05-21
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오늘은 '성년의 날'…1999년생 61만명 성년으로
This is a very special day for Korean youths in the final years of teenhood.
Various events are held to mark their coming-of-age.
Oh Soo-young help us sample how this transition is celebrated here in the nation.
The third Monday of May marks the transition from childhood to adulthood in Korea, and
youths who are twenty in Korean age celebrate their coming-of-age.
“Around 610-thousand South Koreans born in 1999 are celebrating adulthood on Monday. Here at the Namsan Hanok Folk Village, 100 boys and girls are starting the next chapter of their lives as men and women.”
The coming-of-age ceremony dates back to the early 10th century during the Goryeo Dynasty.
As the tradition goes, the women have their tied into a bun and secured with a binyeo, a Korean traditional hairpin.
The men have their hair tied in a top knot, and put on a hat woven from horsehair called a gat.
After a change of dress, the new adults take part in a tea and snack ceremony, before they bow to the parents and elders.
“This ritual of bowing and wearing traditional clothes. It instills pride in the country, a sense of courteousness, and helps youths gather their thoughts as they enter adulthood."
Reaching the age of maturity comes with a sense of responsibility. In Korea, nineteen is the legal age to vote, marry, drive and drink. The young adults here pledge to live as dutiful citizens, not just of Korea, but of the international community.
“I didn’t feel like I was 20 before this ceremony was held but after learning to bow and listening to lectures, I really feel like an adult. I feel the responsibility to do well and manage things on my own."
“I don’t quite feel like an adult just yet but as I am, now, I think I should behave and think courteously, and live responsibly.”
“Now that I’m 20, I feel that I should have a different mindset from when I was a minor, and should also live differently.”
The celebrations take place throughout the country with gifts of roses and perfume presented to those blossoming into adulthood.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
This is a very special day for Korean youths in the final years of teenhood.
Various events are held to mark their coming-of-age.
Oh Soo-young help us sample how this transition is celebrated here in the nation.
The third Monday of May marks the transition from childhood to adulthood in Korea, and
youths who are twenty in Korean age celebrate their coming-of-age.
“Around 610-thousand South Koreans born in 1999 are celebrating adulthood on Monday. Here at the Namsan Hanok Folk Village, 100 boys and girls are starting the next chapter of their lives as men and women.”
The coming-of-age ceremony dates back to the early 10th century during the Goryeo Dynasty.
As the tradition goes, the women have their tied into a bun and secured with a binyeo, a Korean traditional hairpin.
The men have their hair tied in a top knot, and put on a hat woven from horsehair called a gat.
After a change of dress, the new adults take part in a tea and snack ceremony, before they bow to the parents and elders.
“This ritual of bowing and wearing traditional clothes. It instills pride in the country, a sense of courteousness, and helps youths gather their thoughts as they enter adulthood."
Reaching the age of maturity comes with a sense of responsibility. In Korea, nineteen is the legal age to vote, marry, drive and drink. The young adults here pledge to live as dutiful citizens, not just of Korea, but of the international community.
“I didn’t feel like I was 20 before this ceremony was held but after learning to bow and listening to lectures, I really feel like an adult. I feel the responsibility to do well and manage things on my own."
“I don’t quite feel like an adult just yet but as I am, now, I think I should behave and think courteously, and live responsibly.”
“Now that I’m 20, I feel that I should have a different mindset from when I was a minor, and should also live differently.”
The celebrations take place throughout the country with gifts of roses and perfume presented to those blossoming into adulthood.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
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