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In Korea, falling in love comes with a calendar. While Western couples might wait a year for their first anniversary, Korean partners start counting the moment they make it official, and the very first big number on that countdown is 100. Known as 100일 (baek-il), this milestone has become the unofficial graduation ceremony of every new Korean relationship, marked with rings, cakes, matching outfits, and a flood of social posts tagged #백일.
What Exactly Is 100일?
100일 literally translates to "hundred days" and refers to the 100th day a couple has been officially together. In Korea, dating works in clearly defined stages: a flirty 썸 (some) period of mutual interest comes first, then one person makes a 고백 (confession) to ask the other out, and only after that yes does Day 1 of the relationship begin. From that moment, KakaoTalk widgets, lock screen timers, and shared calendars start ticking until they hit the magic three-digit number.
The Korea Herald reported that for Korean couples, love milestones are not optional add-ons, they are a big deal. Counting down to the 100th day and celebrating every 100 days afterward is described by Western partners as a kind of cultural obsession, but for Koreans it is simply how relationships are honored.
Where the Tradition Comes From
The Korean love of 100-day milestones did not start with couples. It started with babies. Historically, infant mortality was high, and families threw a celebration called 백일잔치 (baek-il janchi) when a newborn survived their first 100 days. Red and white rice cakes were shared with neighbors as a public thank-you for the baby pulling through, and family members prayed for the child's continued health.
Over generations, the number 100 came to symbolize endurance, gratitude, and a hopeful new beginning. As modern dating culture took shape in the late 20th century, young couples adopted the same number for their own "we made it" moment. Surviving 100 days as a couple became the romantic version of surviving 100 days as a baby, a checkpoint worth marking.
How Korean Couples Celebrate Baek-il
There is no single template, but most baek-il celebrations include some combination of these classic moves. The day usually starts with a thoughtful gift exchange, often at a cafe or a quiet restaurant the couple has been saving for the occasion. Many couples upgrade their casual dating ring to a proper 커플링 (couple ring), with matching watches, necklaces, or AirPods cases as runner-up gifts.
- A nice dinner reservation at a hotel restaurant, Italian spot, or trendy omakase, often booked weeks in advance.
- Couple rings or matching accessories exchanged as a visible symbol of commitment.
- A photo shoot at a 셀프 스튜디오 (self studio) in Hongdae or Seongsu, complete with props and matching outfits.
- A 100일 cake ordered from Tous Les Jours or Paris Baguette, decorated with the words "100일 사랑해" (I love you on day 100).
- A short trip to Nami Island, Petit France, or a Bukchon hanok stay for a slow, photo-friendly date.
The Birth of a Whole Bakery Trend
Korea's bakery giants Tous Les Jours and Paris Baguette have built entire seasonal lines around couple celebrations. Heart-topped "Propose" cakes, "Kiss Kiss Strawberry" boxes, and customizable cream cakes are pre-set for 100일, 200일, and beyond. The Korea Times has documented how SPC's whole-cake business leans heavily on these emotional milestones, with the brand's signature Strawberry Soft Cream Cake even landing on the dessert table at Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's birthday party.
Couple Rings and the "Put a Ring on It" Culture
Korea has one of the most ring-heavy dating cultures in the world. A 2025 Korea Herald feature noted that couples now buy 커플링 to mark dating anniversaries, then later 가드링 (guard rings) to accentuate wedding bands. For many couples, the 100일 ring is the first physical, wearable proof of their relationship, often bought together at Stonehenge, J. Estina, or a small Sinsa-dong jeweler. It is the relationship version of changing your Instagram bio.
The Photo Shoot and Couple-Look Tradition
A baek-il date is rarely complete without coordinated outfits known as 커플룩 (couple look). The day might end at a hanbok rental shop near Gyeongbokgung Palace, where couples slip into matching colors and tour the palace grounds for free. Self studios in Seongsu also run "100일 packages" that include backdrops, neon signs, and a printed photo album to take home.
How to Count Your 100 Days
Counting starts on the day the relationship officially began, which Koreans call 1일 (il-il). Day 1 is the day of the yes, not the first date or the first kiss. From there, couples reach 100일 on the 100th day inclusive. If you became a couple on January 1, your baek-il falls on April 9. Most people skip the math entirely by using counter apps such as the long-loved Between, BetweenU, Couplive, and the newer Days Matter, which automatically tracks anniversaries and pings both partners the night before.
Beyond 100: The Endless Korean Couple Calendar
For Korean couples, 100일 is just the opening act. The big follow-ups are 200일, 300일, 500일, 1000일 (천일), and yearly anniversaries called 1주년 (il-junyeon). On top of that, the Korean calendar adds a romantic holiday on the 14th of every month: Valentine's Day, White Day, Rose Day, Kiss Day, Silver Day, Photo Day, Wine Day, Movie Day, Hug Day, and the iconic 11월 11일 빼빼로데이 (Pepero Day). Stripes Korea breaks down all twelve, plus singles' Black Day in April.
100일 in K-Dramas
The tradition has been canonized in countless K-dramas. In Reply 1988, the slow-burn romance between Deok-sun and Taek hinges on small, calendar-marked gestures that feel exactly like real Korean dating. In What's Wrong With Secretary Kim, Lee Young-joon throws Mi-so a hyper-curated romantic event that mirrors the choreography of a real baek-il celebration. True Beauty and Crash Landing on You also lean into milestone counting as a shorthand for serious commitment.
One Last Note: Do Not Confuse It With the K-Drama
One small heads-up for international fans: 100 Days My Prince (백일의 낭군님, 2018), the historical hit starring D.O. and Nam Ji-hyun, is a totally different 100 days. That title refers to a royal exile and an amnesia plot, not a dating anniversary. The couple's baek-il we just spent the whole article on is the modern, real-life version. Same number, completely different vibe.
Why the Tradition Still Matters
In a fast-moving dating culture where 썸 can fizzle in a week and DMs feel disposable, 100일 forces couples to slow down, commit, and put something concrete on the calendar. It is part celebration, part public declaration, part receipt. Whether it is a hanbok palace date, a Tous Les Jours cake, or a single Instagram story tagged #백일, baek-il is how Korean love announces, sweetly and stubbornly, that it intends to keep going.
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