Why Are Korean Dating Anniversaries So Special? A Comparison with the United States
If you start dating in Korea, one of the first questions you might hear is:
“When is our 100th day?”
Back when I was dating, I always celebrated our 100-day and 200-day anniversaries. If I forgot… well, let’s just say I’d be in serious trouble!
And if we wanted to celebrate even more often, we even marked the 50th day once.
For many people from the United States and other countries, this question may sound a little unusual. In Korea, it’s common for couples to count the days since they started dating and celebrate milestones such as the 100th day, 200th day, 300th day, and their first anniversary.
So what about couples in the United States? Let’s compare Korean and American dating anniversary culture.
Back when I was dating, I always celebrated our 100-day and 200-day anniversaries. If I forgot… well, let’s just say I’d be in serious trouble!
And if we wanted to celebrate even more often, we even marked the 50th day once.
Why Is the 100th Day So Important in Korea?
In Korea, many couples consider the 100th day of their relationship to be a special milestone.
On the 100th day, couples often go out for a nice meal, take a trip together, exchange flowers or gifts, buy matching couple rings, or take photos to create lasting memories.
After celebrating the 100th day, many couples continue marking other milestones such as the 200th day, 300th day, 500th day, and their first anniversary. Of course, not every couple follows this tradition, but it is especially familiar among younger generations.
I’m Not an Expert, But I Looked Into How It Works in the United States
The United States also has dating anniversaries. However, most couples mainly celebrate the anniversary of the day they started dating (their relationship anniversary) or their first yearly anniversary.
Unlike Korea, it’s uncommon for couples to celebrate by saying, “Today is our 100th day together.” While some couples may choose to celebrate it personally, it is not a widespread tradition across American society.
Instead, people in the United States are more likely to place importance on occasions such as:
- Valentine’s Day
- Birthdays
- Their dating anniversary (Anniversary)
- Wedding anniversaries
The Biggest Differences Between Korea and the United States
| Korea | United States |
|---|---|
| Frequently celebrates the 100th day, 200th day, and other milestones | Usually celebrates only the relationship anniversary |
| Strong culture of counting relationship days | More emphasis on spending quality time together than counting days |
| Many relationship milestones are celebrated | Fewer relationship milestones are commonly celebrated |
What Surprises Americans About Korea?
Americans who visit Korea or begin dating a Korean are often surprised by the 100-day tradition.
“Why the 100th day?”
“You celebrate the 200th day too?”
“Some couples even celebrate the 300th day?”
On the other hand, many Koreans are surprised that American couples usually don’t keep track of every relationship milestone so closely.
One Important Thing to Know
Although Korea’s 100-day anniversary tradition is widely recognized, not every Korean couple celebrates it. Likewise, there are American couples who enjoy celebrating more frequent relationship milestones.
In other words, these are general cultural tendencies rather than strict rules. Every couple has their own unique way of celebrating their relationship.
