The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Sat, March 6, 2021 | 18:15
Is White Day worth the fuss?
Posted : 2014-03-13 18:48
Updated : 2014-03-13 18:48
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
A man looks at gift-wrapped chocolate and candy products displayed in front of a convenience store in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. On 'White Day,' which falls on March 14, men are encouraged to give sweets or gifts to express affection to the women in their lives. In Korea, women give sweets to men on Valentine's Day. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul

A man looks at gift-wrapped chocolate and candy products displayed in front of a convenience store in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. On "White Day," which falls on March 14, men are encouraged to give sweets or gifts to express affection to the women in their lives. In Korea, women give sweets to men on Valentine's Day. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul


By Yoon Sung-won

Two days ahead of "White Day," Friday, temporary stands in front of bakeries and convenience stores were overstocked with gift-wrapped candies and chocolates.

Businesses competitively advertised special offers for the day.

However, the number of White Day customers in downtown Seoul has conspicuously diminished this year.

In one instance, a man gave the stand a quick look before walking away muttering, "How cliche."

This is typical for a day that has been the subject of scorn and suspicion.

A man looks at gift-wrapped chocolate and candy products displayed in front of a convenience store in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. On 'White Day,' which falls on March 14, men are encouraged to give sweets or gifts to express affection to the women in their lives. In Korea, women give sweets to men on Valentine's Day. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul

A man picks up a piece of jewelry attached to a bottle of candy produced exclusively for "White Day" at a department store in Seoul.


Every year, it seems, there are people in the media who bash it as one of the most overly commercialized commemorative days in Korea.

White Day was started by the Japanese confectionery industry association in 1978 as an accompaniment to Valentine's Day, encouraging men to compensate women who gave them chocolates a month earlier to express affection or courtesy.

In Asia, the day has since been enjoyed by lovers as well as businesses marketing sweets, jewelry and other gifts with sentimental value.

Born with such a backdrop, White Day may have been predestined to be commercialized to some extent.

What didn't change is that the day provides people with a special occasion to show affection and respect to their loved ones. And that itself is enough to make the day worthwhile.

A man looks at gift-wrapped chocolate and candy products displayed in front of a convenience store in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. On 'White Day,' which falls on March 14, men are encouraged to give sweets or gifts to express affection to the women in their lives. In Korea, women give sweets to men on Valentine's Day. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul

A store clerk helps a man pick out a box of chocolates for "White Day" at a department store in Seoul.

A man looks at gift-wrapped chocolate and candy products displayed in front of a convenience store in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. On 'White Day,' which falls on March 14, men are encouraged to give sweets or gifts to express affection to the women in their lives. In Korea, women give sweets to men on Valentine's Day. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul

Posters promoting "White Day" special offers for women's cosmetics and perfumes are plastered on a wall in downtown Seoul.

A man looks at gift-wrapped chocolate and candy products displayed in front of a convenience store in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. On 'White Day,' which falls on March 14, men are encouraged to give sweets or gifts to express affection to the women in their lives. In Korea, women give sweets to men on Valentine's Day. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul
A man selects a box of chocolates among various other products at a department store in Seoul.
Emailyoonsw@ktimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
 
  • 279 caught for spreading disinformation on COVID-19 vaccines
  • Seoul encourages foreign residents to take COVID-19 tests
  • Medical experts warn against excessive fears of the COVID-19 vaccine
  • Animal rights activists dump coconuts in front of Thai embassy, criticizing forced monkey labor
  • Fire engulfs old Buddhist temple in southwestern region
  • Reporting on Korean digital sex crimes: Western comparison
  • Sarkozy conviction
  • South Korea approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine
  • [INTERVIEW] Author of 'comfort women' series urges world to hear their testimonies
  • US International Trade Commission reaffirms ruling in favor of LG over SK in battery feud
  • Stars accused of school bullying paying price Stars accused of school bullying paying price
  • Snowballing bullying scandal deals blow to TV series projects Snowballing bullying scandal deals blow to TV series projects
  • K-pop fans hung out to dry over Kakao-Spotify music licensing termination K-pop fans hung out to dry over Kakao-Spotify music licensing termination
  • Global K-pop fans unite forces at Kpop4Planet for climate action Global K-pop fans unite forces at Kpop4Planet for climate action
  • Rapper Killagramz apologizes over marijuana use Rapper Killagramz apologizes over marijuana use
DARKROOM
  • Bloody Sunday in Myanmar

    Bloody Sunday in Myanmar

  • Earth is suffering

    Earth is suffering

  • NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

    NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

  • Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

    Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

  • Our children deserve better: Part 3

    Our children deserve better: Part 3

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • 고충처리인
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright