Pepero Day in Korea: What Really Happens on November 11

If you're in Korea in early November, you can't miss it. Convenience stores bring tables out onto the sidewalk and pile them high with boxes of thin chocolate sticks, big ribbon baskets, and stuffed teddy bears holding gift sets. Some stores look more like a gift shop than a convenience store for a few weeks. That means Pepero Day is coming.

Pepero Day (빼빼로데이) is on November 11. It's not an official holiday, but almost everyone in Korea knows about it, and a lot of people take part, whether they like it or not.

What Is Pepero?

Pepero is a Korean snack made by Lotte. It's a long, thin biscuit stick dipped in chocolate. If you know Pocky from Japan, Pepero is a very similar snack. Think of it as Pocky's Korean cousin.

There are many flavors now, like almond, strawberry, and cookies and cream.

Why November 11?

Look at the date: 11/11. The four "1"s look like four Pepero sticks standing next to each other. That's the whole reason.

The story most people tell is that it started with students in the 1990s, who gave Pepero to each other on this day as a fun way to wish each other to grow tall and slim. Later, it spread across the country, and of course, the company was very happy to help it grow.

Who Gives Pepero to Whom?

Pretty much everyone. Couples give it to each other. Friends and classmates exchange it. Parents sometimes send it to school or kindergarten with their kids. And yes, it happens at work too.

Pepero Day at the Office

This part is different depending on the company.

At my old company, our manager gave the youngest person on the team a company card and asked them to go buy Pepero. Then the Pepero was handed out to everyone in the whole department. If you've read my post about hoesik, you already know who gets these jobs in Korea. It's always the youngest.

At the company after that, it was the other way around. The department head or the team leader would buy Pepero and hand it out to the team themselves. It was a small thing, but it felt nice to get something from the boss.

So if you work in Korea, don't be surprised if a box of Pepero shows up on your desk on November 11.

My Honest Opinion

To be honest, I think Pepero Day is mostly a marketing thing. A snack company sells a lot of snacks, and that's about it.

But when I was dating, I still bought something small for my girlfriend every year. Not because I believed in it, but because I knew she would be a little disappointed if I didn't. Everyone around us was giving and getting Pepero, so skipping it would have felt strange.

The gift sets are a different story. They come in cute boxes with ribbons and teddy bears, but the prices are way too high for what's inside. You're mostly paying for the packaging. I usually just picked a normal box and maybe added something small.

And here's a little secret. Stores stock so much Pepero before November 11 that they can't sell it all. So after Pepero Day, a lot of the leftovers go on sale, sometimes at a big discount. If you just want to eat Pepero yourself, the smartest move is to wait until November 12.

The Feeling of Getting Nothing

Here's the funny part. Even though I think it's a commercial holiday, back in school, if I didn't get a single Pepero, I felt a little sad. When your friends are walking around with Pepero in their hands and you have none, it's hard not to notice.

I think many Koreans feel the same. We know it's a marketing day, but we still kind of want to be included.

Another Holiday on the Same Day

There's another day on November 11 that's less famous: Garaetteok Day (가래떡데이). Garaetteok is a long, white rice cake, and it also looks like a "1." November 11 is also Farmers' Day in Korea, so some people promote giving rice cakes instead of chocolate snacks.

It's a nice idea, but honestly, in convenience stores, Pepero still wins.

If You're in Korea on November 11

- If you're dating someone, get something. Even a small box is enough.

- At work, a simple box for your team is a nice gesture, but nobody expects too much.

- Skip the expensive gift sets unless the packaging really matters to you.

- Want Pepero for yourself? Wait a day or two. Leftover stock often goes on sale after November 11.

- If someone gives you Pepero, a simple "Thank you!" (감사합니다, gamsahamnida) is perfect.

Your Turn

Is there a day like this in your country? A holiday that everyone knows is mostly about selling something, but people still celebrate anyway? Tell me in the comments.

— YG