```json
{"type":"post","title":"Parents\u2019 Day in South Korea: Father\u2019s Day on May 8","canonical_html":"https://bracelet-buy.com/parents-day-in-south-korea-fathers-day-on-may-8/","published":"2026-10-25T18:19:43+00:00","updated":"2026-10-31T09:20:58+00:00","author":"Bracelet Buy"}
```

# Parents’ Day in South Korea: Father’s Day on May 8

Canonical HTML: https://bracelet-buy.com/parents-day-in-south-korea-fathers-day-on-may-8/

## Metadata

| Key | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Published (GMT) | 2026-10-25T18:19:43+00:00 |
| Updated (GMT) | 2026-10-31T09:20:58+00:00 |
| Author | Bracelet Buy |
| Categories | Gifts by occasion |
| Tags | Family gifts and keepsakes |

## Summary

South Korea honors fathers on Parents’ Day, May 8, together with mothers. In 2027 it falls on a Saturday.

## Table of Contents

- H2: Key facts
- H2: When it is, and the next three dates
- H2: From Mother’s Day to Parents’ Day
- H2: How families mark the day
- H2: A bracelet gift that fits Parents’ Day
- H2: Marking the day from abroad
- H2: Sources

## Content

South Korea does not have a separate Father’s Day. Fathers are honored on **Parents’ Day (eobeoinal), May 8**, together with mothers. The next one is Saturday, May 8, 2027. The [Encyclopedia of Korean Culture](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0035973) describes it as a day to thank parents and to honor elders and older people.

## Key facts

- South Korea honors fathers and mothers together on Parents’ Day, May 8, every year.
- May 8 was first marked nationally as Mother’s Day in 1956 and renamed Parents’ Day in 1973.
- Parents’ Day is not a public holiday, so May 8 is a normal working day unless it falls on a weekend.
- Children often pin carnations on their parents and grandparents and give them presents.
- May 8 falls on a Friday in 2026, a Saturday in 2027 and a Monday in 2028.

If your father is Korean, or lives in Korea, this is the date he is most likely to recognize. A present for him alone can still fit the day, but keep in mind that the occasion is about both parents.

## When it is, and the next three dates

Parents’ Day is a fixed date, so only the weekday changes.

- **2026:** Friday, May 8
- **2027:** Saturday, May 8
- **2028:** Monday, May 8

It is not a day off, so when May 8 falls on a weekday, it may be easier to visit on the nearest weekend and call on the day itself.

## From Mother’s Day to Parents’ Day

The [National Archives of Korea](https://theme.archives.go.kr/next/pages/new_newsletter/2016/05/sub01.html) records that the government chose May 8 as Mother’s Day at a cabinet meeting in August 1955, and that national ceremonies were held from 1956. Those ceremonies gave awards to model mothers.

A Father’s Day was discussed later. According to the [Encyclopedia of Korean Culture](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0035973), May 8 was then renamed Parents’ Day in 1973. The archives describe the change as a way to make it a day of thanks to all parents and ancestors.

The encyclopedia links the day to filial piety and respect for elders. It also says the day was meant to revive care for and respect toward older people, which industrialization, city life and smaller nuclear families had weakened.

## How families mark the day

The best-known custom is the carnation. The [Encyclopedia of Korean Culture](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0035973) says children pin carnations on their parents and grandparents, give them presents or take them on a trip. A 2024 photo in [Korea JoongAng Daily](https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/11836216) shows children giving carnations they made to older people at a welfare center ahead of the day.

There is a public side too. The encyclopedia describes an official ceremony where people chosen by cities, counties and districts as devoted sons and daughters-in-law receive awards, and a week for older people around the date that includes visits to care homes.

Beyond these, each family has its own habits. If you are joining a Korean family for the first time, ask your partner what their family usually does.

## A bracelet gift that fits Parents’ Day

Because the day honors both parents, think about how a gift for your father will sit beside whatever you give your mother. Two presents chosen with similar care can feel more balanced than one large gift for one parent. A pair of simple bracelets is an option if both of them like to wear one.

The carnation is already the symbol of the day, so the bracelet does not need a flower motif. A plain design he likes, with a short handwritten card, keeps the focus on thanks.

If the gift is for a grandfather, an easy clasp matters; our guide to [bracelets for men over 60](https://bracelet-buy.com/bracelets-for-men-over-60-comfort-clasps-and-eyesight/) explains which fastenings are easier to use, and [gifts for a grandfather](https://bracelet-buy.com/gifts-for-a-grandfather/) has broader ideas. Our [wrist-measuring guide](https://bracelet-buy.com/how-to-measure-your-wrist-for-a-bracelet/) shows how to get his size without spoiling the surprise.

## Marking the day from abroad

If you live where Father’s Day is in June or September, nothing in your calendar will flag May 8. Add Parents’ Day yourself, with the year. Korea is many hours ahead of Europe and the Americas, so a call in your evening may reach your parents the next morning. Plan the call for their May 8, not yours.

You may also want to mark your own country’s Father’s Day. Ask your dad which date matters to him. Our [Father’s Day dates around the world](https://bracelet-buy.com/father-s-day-dates-around-the-world/) lists other calendars, and our [complete Father’s Day gift guide](https://bracelet-buy.com/father-s-day-gifts-the-complete-guide/) has ideas beyond bracelets.

## Sources

- Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (Academy of Korean Studies): [어버이날](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0035973)
- National Archives of Korea: [전쟁터에서 보낸 바나나 잎 편지…가정의 달 기록물 공개](https://theme.archives.go.kr/next/pages/new_newsletter/2016/05/sub01.html)
- Korea JoongAng Daily: [Filial piety notwithstanding, Korea still hesitant to designate Parents’ Day a national holiday](https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/11836216)