Korean (Dangun-gi / 단기)

Korean Date Today

As of Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 11:30 PM, today's Korean (Dangun-gi / 단기) date is:

Dangi 4359, 19 May, Tuesday
단기 4359년 5월 19일 화요일
Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Today's Korean (Dangun-gi / 단기) date — full detail

Date
Dangi 4359, 19 May, Tuesday
Korean
단기 4359년 5월 19일 화요일
Short form
단기 4359/5/19
Year
2026 Dangi (단기) — Dangun Era
Gregorian
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Founding ruler
Dangun Wanggeom (단군왕검) — son of Hwanung, grandson of Hwanin
First kingdom
Gojoseon (고조선, "Ancient Joseon")
Founding year
2333 BCE — King Yao's 50th year of reign
Year conversion
Gregorian + 2333 = Dangi year
Today's Dangi year
단기 4359
National Foundation Day
Gaecheonjeol (개천절) — 3 October, "Opening of Heaven Day"

Why today matters

Today is Dangi 4359, 19 May, Tuesday. The Dangi era counts from 2333 BCE, the year of the mythic founding of Gojoseon ("Ancient Joseon") by Dangun Wanggeom (단군왕검) — the legendary founder-king of the first Korean kingdom. While South Korea uses Gregorian dating (서기, seogi — "western era") for nearly all civil purposes today, Dangi remains in use on Buddhist temple records, by certain religious organizations like Daejonggyo (대종교, "Religion of the Great Ancestor"), and in academic contexts referring to pre-modern Korean history.

"In the first year of the reign of King Yao, on the third day of the tenth month, Dangun came down from heaven and founded the city of Asadal." — Samguk Yusa (1281 CE)

How we compute this

Korean (Dangun-gi / 단기) is a solar (gregorian-aligned) calendar. Each year contains 365–366 days (Gregorian-aligned), with each month averaging Same as Gregorian. Years are counted from 2333 BCE — mythic founding of Gojoseon by Dangun Wanggeom (era: Dangi (단기) — Dangun Era).

The Dangun foundation myth is recorded in the Samguk Yusa ("Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms"), compiled by the Buddhist monk Iryeon in 1281 CE. Dangun, said to be the grandson of the celestial Lord Hwanin and the son of Hwanung, founded Gojoseon at Asadal (likely present-day Pyongyang) in 2333 BCE. The Dangi calendar was made the official national era of the Republic of Korea on 25 September 1948 under President Syngman Rhee, but General Park Chung-hee's government switched to the Gregorian calendar on 1 January 1962 for international compatibility. Today, Dangi appears on Korean Buddhist temple registers, in calendars distributed by traditional religious organizations, and as a secondary date on certain commemorative coins and stamps. The year is calculated as Gregorian + 2333, so 2026 CE = Dangi 4359 (단기 4359).

Used by: ~85 million Koreans (South Korea, North Korea, and the diaspora). Regions: South Korea (traditional and ceremonial use; mainstay of historical contexts and certain religious organizations).

Frequently asked

What is the Korean date today?
Today's date is Dangi 4359, 19 May, Tuesday. In Korean: 단기 4359년 5월 19일.
How do I convert a Gregorian year to a Dangi year?
Add 2333 to the Gregorian year. So 2026 CE = Dangi 4359 (단기 4359). To go back: Dangi year − 2333 = Gregorian year.
Does South Korea use the Dangi calendar today?
Not for civil purposes — the Gregorian calendar (서기, seogi) replaced Dangi as South Korea's official calendar on 1 January 1962. Dangi remains in use on Buddhist temple records, in calendars distributed by Daejonggyo and certain traditional religious organizations, in academic contexts dealing with Korean history, and on some commemorative items.
Does North Korea use the same calendar?
No — North Korea adopted the Juche calendar in 1997, counting years from 1912 (the birth year of Kim Il-sung). Under the Juche system, 2026 CE = Juche 115. Both Gregorian and Juche dates appear on most DPRK official documents, with Juche typically given precedence.
Is there a traditional Korean lunisolar calendar?
Yes — separately from the Dangi era count, Korea historically used a Chinese-derived lunisolar calendar for festivals and observances. The Korean Lunar New Year (Seollal, 설날), Chuseok (추석, mid-autumn harvest festival), and Buddha's Birthday (부처님 오신 날) all follow the lunisolar calendar. These dates are listed on Korean civil calendars alongside the Gregorian dates and remain culturally central even though daily life uses Gregorian.
What is Gaecheonjeol?
Gaecheonjeol (개천절) — "Opening of Heaven Day" — is South Korea's national foundation holiday, celebrated on 3 October. It commemorates the descent of Hwanung from heaven and the foundation of Gojoseon by Dangun in 2333 BCE. It is one of South Korea's five national holidays alongside Independence Movement Day, Liberation Day, Constitution Day, and Hangeul Day.