Tan'gun

Tan'gun is a very old story from Korea. People say he was the first king of a place called Gojoseon. The story says he started his kingdom a long, long time ago, in 2333 BC, in the north part of the Korean Peninsula.

The story of Tan'gun comes from a book named the Samguk yusa. It tells how Tan'gun’s grandfather was the “Lord of Heaven.” His father wanted to live on earth, so he came down to Paektu Mountain with many followers. There, he met a bear who became a woman named Ungnyeo. They married and had a son, Tan'gun.

Every year on October 3rd, Koreans celebrate National Foundation Day to honor Tan'gun. This holiday started with a group called Daejongism, which remembers Tan'gun. In taekwondo, Tan'gun is one of the shapes students learn, reminding them of Korea’s first leader.