Korean Dictionary
How to say "Memorial Day" in Korean
“Memorial Day” in Korean is 현충일 (pronounced "hyeonchungil").
현충일
hyeonchungil
Usage & Context
현충일 on June 6th is Korea's Memorial Day honoring soldiers and civilians who died defending the country. At 10 AM a national siren sounds for one minute during which Koreans observe a moment of silence across the nation. Ceremonies are held at the National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul where over 170,000 fallen heroes are buried.
Example Sentence
현충일 사이렌이 울리면 묵념을 드려야 해요.
When the Memorial Day siren sounds you should observe a moment of silence.
How to use 현충일 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Memorial Day” is 현충일, romanized as hyeonchungil.
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 현충일.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce '현충일' as 'Hyeon-chung-il'. 'Hyeon' sounds like 'hyun' in 'Hyundai'. 'Chung' is like 'choong' in 'choong-ga'. 'Il' sounds like 'ill'.
More Example Sentences
Describing the main event of the holiday.
현충일에는 국립현충원에서 추념식이 열려요.
On Memorial Day, a memorial ceremony is held at the National Cemetery.
Explaining the national moment of silence tradition.
현충일 아침 10시에는 사이렌 소리에 맞춰 묵념을 해야 해요.
At 10 AM on Memorial Day, you should observe a moment of silence with the siren sound.
Describing a patriotic custom for the holiday.
현충일에는 태극기를 조기로 게양합니다.
On Memorial Day, the Korean flag is flown at half-mast.
Cultural Context
현충일 (Hyeonchungil) is a solemn national holiday in Korea dedicated to honoring the fallen soldiers and patriots who sacrificed their lives for the country. A distinctive tradition is the national siren that sounds at 10 AM, prompting everyone across the nation to observe a minute of silent prayer. Many Koreans visit the National Cemetery (국립현충원) to pay respects, and the Korean flag (태극기) is flown at half-mast (조기 게양) as a sign of mourning and respect.
Editorial note
We review entries like 현충일 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
현충일은 국경일입니다.
Memorial Day is a national holiday.
현충일에는 경건한 마음으로 추모합니다.
On Memorial Day, we commemorate with a solemn heart.
현충일 사이렌이 울리면 묵념을 드려야 해요.
When the Memorial Day siren sounds, you should observe a moment of silence.
Related Expressions
국립현충원
gungnip hyeonchungwon
National Cemetery
묵념
muknyeom
Moment of silence
순국선열
sunguk seonnyeol
Patriots who died for their country
조기 게양
jogi gyeyang
Flying flag at half-mast
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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