Korean Dictionary
How to say "Dangun" in Korean
“Dangun” in Korean is 단군 (pronounced "dangun").
단군
dangun
Usage & Context
Dangun is the legendary founder of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, said to have been born from a bear-woman and a god named Hwanung. He is revered as the mythological ancestor of all Korean people. His birthday is celebrated as Gaecheonjeol (개천절) on October 3.
Example Sentence
단군은 고조선을 세운 전설적인 인물이에요.
Dangun is the legendary figure who founded Gojoseon.
How to use 단군 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Dangun” is 단군, romanized as dangun.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 단군.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'dahn-goon' — 'dan' rhymes with 'Don' (short 'ah') and 'gun' rhymes with 'soon.' Equal stress on both syllables, clipped at the end.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
단군왕검
dangun-wanggeom
Full ceremonial title meaning 'King Dangun' — used in historical and religious contexts
More Example Sentences
explaining Korean history to a foreigner
단군 신화는 한국에서 가장 오래된 건국 신화예요.
The Dangun myth is Korea's oldest founding myth.
discussing Korean public holidays
10월 3일은 단군이 나라를 세운 날을 기리는 개천절이에요.
October 3rd is Gaecheonjeol, commemorating the day Dangun founded the nation.
recounting the myth in a history class
단군의 아버지는 환웅이고, 어머니는 웅녀예요.
Dangun's father is Hwanung and his mother is Ungnyeo (the bear-woman).
Cultural Context
Every Korean child learns the Dangun myth in elementary school: Hwanung, a son of the heavens, descends to earth and grants humanity to a bear who endures 100 days in a cave eating only garlic and mugwort — she becomes Ungnyeo and gives birth to Dangun, who founds Gojoseon in 2333 BCE. The date 10월 3일 (October 3rd) is a national holiday called 개천절 ('Day the Sky Opened'), and Korea's traditional calendar 단기 (Dangi) still counts years from Dangun's founding — making 2025 the year 단기 4358. The myth is taken as national heritage rather than literal history by most modern Koreans, but it remains a powerful symbol of Korean ethnic identity.
Editorial note
We review entries like 단군 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
단군 신화
the Dangun myth
단군의 자손
descendants of Dangun
단군 할아버지
Grandfather Dangun (affectionate)
Related Expressions
고조선
gojoseon
Gojoseon, Korea's first kingdom
개천절
gaecheonjeol
National Foundation Day (Oct 3)
환웅
hwanung
Hwanung, Dangun's heavenly father
단기
dangi
Dangi calendar (dating from Dangun)
More Korean History Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Dangun and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
