Pepero Day: How Korea’s Sweetest Holiday Became a Cultural Icon

Every year on November 11, Korea celebrates one of its most charming and unique festivals, Pepero Day. What started as a fun exchange between friends has grown into a nationwide (and now global) celebration of sweetness, affection, and connection.

The Origin of Pepero Day

Pepero Day takes place on 11/11, because the date looks like four long, thin Pepero sticks lined up together (11 11).

The origin story goes back to the 1990s, when middle school girls in Busan or Gyeongsang Province supposedly exchanged Pepero sticks, wishing to “become slim and tall” like the snack itself.

The idea spread quickly, and by 1997, Lotte Wellfood (formerly Lotte Confectionery), the company behind Pepero, turned it into an official marketing event. Since then, it has become a cultural phenomenon.

How Koreans Celebrate It

Pepero Day isn’t just for couples, it’s for everyone. Friends, classmates, coworkers, and family members exchange Pepero as a sweet way to say thank you or I care about you.

• Students give them to friends and teachers.
• Office workers share them with colleagues.
• Couples often exchange gift boxes or limited-edition Pepero sets.

In recent years, DIY Pepero kits and handmade gift boxes have become trendy, allowing people to personalize their gifts with unique toppings, messages, or even homemade packaging.

Going Global

Pepero Day isn’t just a Korean thing anymore.
Lotte Wellfood has started promoting the event internationally, from Times Square billboards in New York to global K-pop collaborations.

Pepero is now sold in over 60 countries, with growing recognition as part of K-culture’s global wave. International fans often celebrate the day on social media by sharing photos of Pepero boxes or homemade versions of the snack.

In the End...

Pepero Day may have started as a marketing idea, but today it’s a celebration of joy, friendship, and creativity, a holiday that perfectly captures the playful, heartwarming side of Korean culture.

So when November 11 comes around, don’t forget to grab a Pepero box (or make your own) and share the sweetness with someone you care about.