Korean Dictionary
How to say "National Foundation Day" in Korean
“National Foundation Day” in Korean is 개천절 (pronounced "gaecheonjol").
개천절
gaecheonjol
Usage & Context
개천절 on October 3rd is Korea's National Foundation Day marking the legendary founding of the first Korean kingdom Gojoseon by Dangun in 2333 BC. The name means Opening of Heaven Day. National ceremonies are held at Chamseongdan altar on Manisan Mountain in Ganghwado Island.
Example Sentence
개천절은 단군 조선 건국을 기념하는 날이에요.
National Foundation Day commemorates the founding of Dangun Joseon.
How to use 개천절 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “National Foundation Day” is 개천절, romanized as gaecheonjol.
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 개천절.
Pronunciation Guide
Say "Gae-cheon-jol" like "gay-CHUN-johl." "Gae" sounds like "gay." "Cheon" is like "chun" in "crunch," but with a softer 'ch' sound. "Jol" is like "johl" in "goal," but with a soft 'j' and a short 'o' sound. The stress is on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
A history teacher explaining the holiday to students.
개천절은 단군왕검이 고조선을 세운 날이에요.
Gaecheonjol is the day Dangun Wanggeom founded Gojoseon.
A colleague discussing holiday plans.
개천절 연휴에 가족들과 등산 갈 계획이에요.
I'm planning to go hiking with my family during the Gaecheonjol long weekend.
Friends talking about traditional ceremonies.
개천절에는 강화도 마니산에서 제례가 열린대요.
They say a ritual is held on Manisan Mountain in Ganghwado on Gaecheonjol.
Cultural Context
Gaecheonjol, or National Foundation Day, is a unique Korean holiday celebrating the legendary founding of the first Korean kingdom, Gojoseon, by Dangun Wanggeom. It literally means "Opening of Heaven Day," referring to the mythical descent of Dangun's father from heaven. While it's a public holiday, it's less about grand public celebrations and more about reflecting on Korea's ancient origins and cultural identity. Many Koreans use the long weekend for family outings or short trips.
Editorial note
We review entries like 개천절 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
개천절 연휴
Gaecheonjol long weekend
개천절 행사
Gaecheonjol event
개천절의 의미
Meaning of Gaecheonjol
Related Expressions
단군 신화
Dangun sinhwa
Dangun myth
고조선
Gojoseon
Ancient Joseon (first Korean kingdom)
건국 기념일
geonguk ginyeomil
national foundation day (general term)
국조 단군
gukjo Dangun
Dangun, the national progenitor
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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