Valentine's Day, which falls on February 14, is celebrated by exchanging chocolate, flowers and other gifts between friends, or especially by women giving men chocolate. The origin of the Valentine’s Day celebration goes back to Rome in the 3rd century A.D. Of many legends, one contends that Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine was a priest who defied Claudius and performed marriages for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, Valentine was put to death. Valentine’s Day celebrated his martyrdom as a day of romance. There is a strong tradition whereby women confess their love to their romantic interest by giving him chocolate, but more recently the celebration has consisted of exchanges of gifts between everyone.

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Valentine's Day, Dal-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan

Valentine's Day was introduced to Korea via Japan in the 1980s. Some people criticized Valentine's Day as being merely a social phenomenon and a showcase for commercialism; however, the celebration has been supported by young people as it allows women to confess their love to men. In recent years Valentine's Day has become to a day for expressing thanks to one's entourage.