The Meaning of National Foundation Day in 2011

Welcome back. We start the second part of Arirang Today with a Korean mythology Sean, do you know how Korea was founded about half a million years backWell, I know it involves a bear and a tiger I wouldn't go into too much detail as I don't want to ruin it for those who have never heard of this story.
But it's a story that every Korean knows and a story that always comes up around this time of the year.

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That's right. Today is National Foundation Day the day we Koreans celebrate the birth of our nation. And we have Arirang Today's Park Hee-ju in the studio to tell us more. Hello

[Reporter : ] Hello. Let me ask you guys a question first. What do you usually do on National Foundation Day Nothing special.

[Reporter : ] Same here. I think whenever I look at the calender and notice a day marked in red, I automatically get excited by the fact that it's a holiday and nothing more.
//Today, I'd like to talk about how National Foundation Day, among other national holidays is being overshadowed in today's society.
Many Koreans grow up learning about the story of Dangun, the founder of Gojoseon, the first state of the Korean nation. We all know about the mythology but are we aware of the significance that this day holds and Dangun's philosophy

Every Korean learns about the foundation of their country from a young age.

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "Do you know who founded our country[Interview : ] "God!"

[Interview : ] "Let's say it together!"

[Interview : ] "October 3rd is National Foundation Day!"

Long long ago, there was a bear and a tiger who wanted to become humans! They were told that they had to live in a cave and eat only mugwort and garlic in order to make their wish come true. The tiger didn't last, but the bear made it through 100 daysand became a woman who bore Dangun, the founder of the Korean nation.

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "What is National Foundation Day[Interview : ] "The day that our country was created".

[Interview : ] "Who created it[Interview : ] "Dangun".

The story is read repeatedly in picture books, and appears on the first page of every Korean history textbook.

But do people know what "Hongikingan", Dangun's philosophy means

Or why National Foundation Day is commemorated on October 3rd

[Interview : PD] "Why do we celebrate National Foundation Day[Interview : ] "I'm not sure".

[Interview : PD] "When is National Foundation Day

[Interview : ] ". October 1st[Interview : ] "National Foundation Day[Interview : ] "Holidays like Independence Day or Independence Movement Day are talked about a lot, so I know about their significance, but I'm not sure about National Foundation Day".

Why do we celebrate National Foundation Day on October 3rd

[Interview : Jeong Yeong-hun, Professor
The Academy of Korean Studies] "In the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties, there were memorial services dedicated to Dangun organized by private organizations or the government. The services were held on October 3rd, on the lunar calendar. When National Foundation Day was officially declared in 1949, it was fixed as October 3rd on the solar calendar for convenience".

Despite its significance as the beginning of Korea's rich 5,000-year history, National Foundation Day has lost its luster in the hearts of the Korean people.

[Interview : ] "Technically speaking, it's the day our country was born. It seems like we're not doing enough".

[Interview : ] "I don't think we're taught to consider National Foundation Day as an important day. We just get a day off. There aren't any particular events or anything".

[Interview : ] "There should be more efforts to raise awareness. Honestly, we all learn about National Foundation Day in school, but no one knows much about it except that we take the day off".

It is peculiar how there isn't any annual event to celebrate National Foundation Day.
I remember when I was young, many people set up the Korean flags at home and apartments with flags on the windows was a common sight

[Reporter : ] But not so much thesedays, isn't it