The traditional Korean calendar is a lunisolar calendar, like the traditional calendars of other East Asian countries. Dates are calculated from Korea's meridian, and observances and festivals are based in Korean culture.

The Gregorian calendar was officially adopted in 1896, but traditional holidays and age-reckoning for older generations are still based on the old calendar.^[1] The biggest festival in Korea today is Seollal, the first day of the traditional Korean New Year. Other important festivals include Daeboreum also refer to as Boreumdaal (the first full moon), Dano (spring festival) and Chuseok (harvest moon festival), and Samjinnal (spring-opening festival). Other minor festivals include Yudu (summer festival), and Chilseok (monsoon festival).

See also Public holidays in North Korea and Public holidays in South Korea.

History[link]

The traditional calendar designated its years via Korean era names from 270 to 963. Then Chinese era name with Korean era names were used few times until 1894. In 1894-1895, The lunar calendar was used with years numbered from the foundation of the Joseon Dynasty in 1392.

The Gregorian calendar was adopted on 1 January 1896, with Korean era name "Geonyang(건양/建陽, "adopting solar calendar")".

From 1945 until 1961 in South Korea, Gregorian calendar years were counted from the foundation of Gojoseon in 2333 BCE (regarded as year one), the date of the legendary founding of Korea by Dangun, hence these Dangi (단기/檀紀) years were 4278 to 4294. This numbering was informally used with the Korean lunar calendar before 1945 but is only occasionally used today and mostly used in North Korea.

In North Korea, the Juche calendar has been used since 1997 to number its years, based on the birth of Kim Il Sung.

Features[link]

• The Korean zodiac of 12 Earthly Branches (animals), which were used for counting hours and years;
• Ten Heavenly Stems, which were combined with the 12 Earthly Branches to form a sixty-year cycle;
• Twenty-four solar terms (jeolgi 節氣 절기) in the year, spaced roughly 15 days apart;
• Lunar months including leap months added every two or three years.

Festivals[link]

The lunar calendar is used for the observation of traditional festivals, such as Seollal, Chuseok, and Buddha's Birthday. It is also used for jesa memorial services for ancestors and the marking of birthdays by older Koreans.

Traditional holidays[link]

There are also many regional festivals celebrated according to the lunar calendar.

See also[link]

• List of Korea-related topics
• Traditional Korean culture
• Korean era name
• Sexagenary cycle

References[link]

1. ^ Korean Holidays

• Pyeon, Prof. M. Y. The Folkloric Study of Chopail (Buddha's Birthday). Seoul: Minsokwon, 2002.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2012)

Kim Hyun Joong
Kim Hyun Joong at SS501 Persona Concert 2009 Hong Kong
Background information
Birth name	김현중 (金賢重)
Born	(1986-06-06) 6 June 1986 (age 26) Seoul, South Korea
Origin	South Korea
Genres	K-pop, J-pop, Dance, R&B
Occupations	Singer, Actor, Model, Dancer, MC
Instruments	Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drums, Violin
Years active	2005–present
Labels	DSP Media (2005–2010) KeyEast (2010–present) Warner Music Taiwan (2010–present) United Asia Management (2011–present) Delicious Deli Records/Universal Music Japan (2011–present)
Associated acts	SS501 (2005-present)
Website	http://www.hyun-joong.com/

20110816 The Face Shop activities in Taiwan

Kim Hyun Joong (Hangul: 김현중, Hanja: 金賢重) was born on 6 June 1986. He is a South Korean entertainer and the leader of boyband SS501. Kim is well-known for his role as Yoon Ji Hoo in the 2009 Korean drama Boys Over Flowers, winning Best Actor Award at the Seoul International Drama Awards 2009, and Popularity Award at the 45th PaekSang Arts Awards. He is also known for playing in the late 2010 Korean drama Playful Kiss, as Baek Seung Jo. He is a style icon in Korea, winning several icon awards.

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

He dropped out of school when he decided to become a singer. During his school days, he played bass guitar in a band. During the years 2001 and 2002 when he was 14–15, while working as a waiter in a family restaurant, located at Jamsil-dong, he was introduced to a new set up management company CEO. Initially he was to debut in a 5 member group. Han Yeon of B2Y (now disbanded) was to be the Leader and Kim the maknae. While the group underwent training together, they were asked by their company to debut in China as a Hallyu project group, but the group rejected the offer and disbanded. Kim proceeded to audition for DSP Media (formerly DSP Entertainment) and became a member and leader of SS501. Kim returned to school and graduated in 2006 after debuting as a member of SS501. In 2011, he enrolled in Chungwoon University to study stage production management.^[1]

2005: Debut[link]

On 8 June 2005, Kim made his entertainment debut as the leader of SS501. The group appeared on the 2006 show, Thank You For Waking Me Up where he was proven to be a heavy sleeper, and the MNet show Idol World in 2007, in which SS501 did various activities in Japan.

In May 2008, Kim joined the cast of We Got Married in episode nine. Known as the "Lettuce Couple", Hyun Joong and Hwang Bo went on to win MBC's Best Couple Award. The couple made their official exit from the show in episode 38, on 14 December 2008, due to scheduling conflicts with Boys Over Flowers.

2009: Acting, Boys Over Flowers and H1N1[link]

Whilst in Japan in 2008, Kim was cast as Yoon Ji Hoo in the Korean drama Boys Over Flowers. A role for which he won the Best Actor Award at the Seoul International Drama Awards 2009 and the Popularity Award at the 45th PaekSang Arts Awards.

In 2009, SS501 released the album SS501 Collection, in which they each sang a solo song, along with being featured in a mini drama music video. Their Asia Concert Tour began in mid-August 2009 in Seoul at the Olympic Park. They continued their tour in Shanghai, Taipei, and Bangkok before returning to Seoul for a closing encore concert. They staged two concerts for the encore closure on 27 February and 28 February 2010 respectively.

In September 2009, during promotions in Yokohama, Japan for Boys Over Flowers, Kim was diagnosed with H1N1. He was treated in a Toyko hospital and was discharged on 15 September 2009.^[2] While recovering from H1N1, he could not attend the Seoul International Drama Awards; to accept the award on his behalf, his band mates of SS501: Heo Young Saeng, Kim Kyu Jong, and Kim Hyung Jun were present for the award show.

He has also been the spokesperson for cosmetics brand, Tony Moly, an established company with numerous branches across Korea and Asia, including Taiwan and Hong Kong. He has since ended his contract with Tony Moly at the end of September 2010, and he had been chosen to be the Spokesperson for The Face Shop. He Did A Video (M et )ru- Black Glasses starring Kim Hyun Joong!

2010: SS501 comeback, leaving DSP Media, Playful Kiss, and 2010 Asian Games[link]

In April 2010, he appeared opposite Jung Ryeo Won in the music video for Korean singer Gummy's new song "As A Man" (남자라서).

In June 2010, SS501 released an album titled Destination, produced by Steven Lee. Their title song "Love Ya" was well received, rating high in record sales and online music stores, and it went on to top Music Bank's K-Chart. However, they ended promotions after two weeks, because SS501's contract with DSP Media ended.

On 19 June 2010, he appeared at a concert in the Philippines along side BEAST.

On 28 June 2010, it was announced that Kim had officially left DSP Media and joined Bae Yong Joon's KeyEast Entertainment company.^[3] Although Kim has left DSP Media he stated that SS501's activities will be top priority in their contracts^[4] and definitely has not disbanded. Kim explained in an interview that, at the time, there wasn't a company that would accepted them as a whole, thus the group decided to take the chance to focus on their solo activities.

Kim played the lead role in the drama Playful Kiss, a Korean adaptation of Japanese shōjo manga Itazura na Kiss as Baek Seung Jo, an all round perfect genius with an IQ of 200, with co star Jung So Min as Oh Hani. On 7 November, Kim was interviewed by CNN's Anna Coren due to his success in Playful Kiss. Playful Kiss Special Edition is a big hit on Youtube as it is the first Korean drama to air on YouTube. Its first episode garnered 1 million views just in 5 days and it proved so popular that there is a record channel view of 7 million and 26 million total upload views, as of January 2012.

Kim was invited to perform at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou as the representative of South Korea to sing "Sunshine Again" with other 4 other singers from Chinese-speaking countries.^[5] In early December 2010, Kim went to Singapore and Malaysia to promote The Face Shop.

2011: Solo artist[link]

In May, Kim named his official solo fanclub 'Henecia', which is a combination of 'H' and the Latin term 'benecia', which means 'blessed'.^[6]

On 8 June 2011, Kim released his first solo debut mini album, Break Down. It was produced by Steven Lee, who composed SS501's hits, "Love Like This" and "Love Ya". The title track "Break Down", featuring Double K., is a high energy dance track, with a R&B heavy "Please", as the second lead track. The album exceeded 70,000 pre-ordered copies in just 10 days.^[7] It peaked at number one on Gaon Weekly Album Chart for the week starting 5 June 2011^[8] and was the best-selling album for June on Gaon Monthly Album Chart with 100,433 copies sold. It also toped the Oricon chart in Japan in the International Imported Album category for the first week of July.^[9] The album's title track "Break Down" was the first place winner for two consecutive weeks on Mnet's M! Countdown music show, for 16 and 23 June 2011; and also won for two consecutive weeks on KBS's Music Bank.^[10] Break Down is certified platinum in Taiwan and Kim was presented with a platinum record by Warner Music Taiwan CEO Chen Ze Shan in a press conference held in Taiwan.^[11]

Kim was also the first Korean to appear on Taiwanese TV show The Person. In July 2011, he also held the first of his nationwide concerts in Japan. The tour continued from November in seven cities across Japan: Sapporo, Sendai, Hiroshima, Yokohama, Nagoya, Tokyo and Fukuoka.^[12]

On 11 October 2011, Kim released his second mini album Lucky. It debuted at number 5 on Billboard's World Chart.^[13] It topped the Gaon Chart again for the third week of October 2011 and was the highest selling album on the Hanteo Album Sales Chart for the month of October 2011. On 25 October 2011, Kim released a digital single together with Seohyun entitled "The Magic of Yellow Ribbon", which is the theme song for a commercial for The Face Shop. On 28 October, he, along with Ha Ji Won, acted as MC at the 2011 K-Pop Super Concert held at Gwangalli Beach in Busan, which was broadcast on SBS on 6 November.^[14]

In November 2011, Kim won the 2011 KIA Soul People’s Choice "Style Icon Award" for the third consecutive year.^[15] On 9 November, Kim announced at a press conference for his Japan Tour that he had signed a deal with Universal Music Japan for his Japan-based music activities.^[16] Kim successfully completed his Japan Tour that started on 9th of November, attracting over 30,000 fans. Kim won the Best Male Solo Artist at the 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards that was held in Singapore.

On 15 December 2011, Kim released his digital album : Marry You/Marry Me. The digital album consists of 4 songs, namely Marry Me, Marry You, Marry Me (instrumental) and Marry You (instrumental). The music videos for Marry Me and Marry You were both released on his official Youtube account on 15th December 2011 12 AM KST.

2012: Upcoming Drama, 2012 Fan Meeting Tour[link]

On January 26 2012, Kim Hyun Joong released his first Japanese single (Kiss Kiss & Lucky Guy) (Japanese version). The singer who has focused mostly on his album promotions after his drama ‘Playful Kiss‘ which came to an end in 2010 has recently been confirmed for a role in ‘City Conquest‘. Kim Hyun Joong is going to be the main lead for the upcoming drama, "Conquest for City" which is also known as "City Conquest". Kim Hyun Joong will be playing the role as a wild man (Baek Mir), a strong individual who experienced and went through many kinds of hardships and difficulties and lived through a harsh life, growing up without parents, but a man who becomes infinitely weak when it comes to love. ‘City Conquest’ is a drama that’s been adapted from the original comic by author Shin Hyung Bin. This new project brings together humanism and action, and it tells the story of main character Baek Mir who grew up resentful towards his father who left his mother and himself. He takes revenge against the evils of society which drove his family into destruction.

In related news, Kim Hyun Joong will be holding his ‘Kim Hyun Joong Fan Meeting Tour 2012‘ in May, making stops in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and more.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• 2008 – Digital Single Thank You
• 2011 – 1st mini album Break Down
• 2011 – 2nd mini album Lucky
• 2011 - Digital Single Marry You/ Marry Me
• 2012 - 1st Japanese Single "" [Kiss Kiss/Lucky Guy] (Japanese Version)

DVDs[link]

• 2010 – Ready,Action! Spain Photo Book
• 2010 – Kim Hyun Joong's "First Love Story DVD"

Soundtrack Contributions (OSTs)[link]

• 2009 - Because I'm Stupid Acoustic Version - Boys Over Flowers (KBS drama)
• 2009 - A Thing Called Happiness - Boys Over Flowers Special Edition (KBS drama)
• 2010 - One More Time - Playful Kiss (MBC drama)
• 2012 - If You're Like Me - The Marriage Plot (tvN drama)

Filmography[link]

• 2005: Nonstop – ep 208 (MBC)
• 2005: Can Love Be Refilled? – as William (KBS2 sitcom)
• 2006: Pi Story – (voice)
• 2007: Hotelier – with SS501 cameo ep 7 (TV Arashi)
• 2008: Spotlight – with SS501 cameo (MBC)
• 2008: We Got Married – ep 9 to 38 (MBC)
• 2009: Boys Before Flowers – as Yoon Ji Hoo (KBS2)
• 2009: Samsung Anycall Haptic Mission with F4 and Som Dam-Bi
• 2009: Family Outing – guest ep 64–65 (SBS)
• 2010: Playful Kiss – as Baek Seung Jo (MBC)
• 2011: Running Man – guest ep 46–47 (SBS)
• 2011: Dream High – cameo ep 1 (KBS2)
• 2012: Kpop Star conquering the world Documentary (MBC)
• 2012: Conquest of the City/City Conquest - as Baek Mir (SBS)

Music videos[link]

• 2005 2Shai – "She Laugh"
• 2006 Eru – "Black Glasses"
• 2009 Kim Joon – "Jun Be O.K"
• 2010 Gummy – "As A Man"
• 2011 Kim Hyun Joong – "제발" (Please)
• 2011 Kim Hyun Joong – "Break Down"
• 2011 Kim Hyun Joong – "Kiss Kiss"
• 2011 Kim Hyun Joong – "Lucky Guy"
• 2011 Kim Hyun Joong - "Marry You"
• 2012 Kim Hyun Joong - "Kiss Kiss" [Japanese version]
• 2012 Kim Hyun Joong - "Lucky Guy" [Japanese version]

MC[link]

• 2005 – M! Countdown – Mnet
• 2006 – Music Core
• 2011 – Super K-pop Busan Concert

Endorsements[link]

• Samsung Anycall Blue
• Mighty Mac
• Elite Uniform
• Lotte Milkshake
• Converse
• Samsung Anycall Haptic Pop
• T.I For Men
• NongShim
• Le Coq Sportif
• Samsung Anycall Jet
• Dinamic Kin (Coca Cola)

• Hotsun Chicken
• Samsung Card
• MVIO
• Basic House
• I'm David
• Tony Moly
• The Face Shop (with Seohyun)
• Hang Ten
• Coupang Spring Campaign
• Lotte Duty Free
• Aeon Heatfact (Japan)
• Aeon Coolish Fact (Japan)
• Seoul Ambassador to Tourism
• Slim Beauty House (Japan)
• March 2012 Honorary Ambassador of the United Nations Millennium Development
• Centerpole

Awards[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Kim Hyun Joong's Official Website
• Kim Hyun Joong's Official Japanese Website
• Kim Hyun Joong's KeyEast Profile Page