May Day

May Day in North Korea is celebrated as International Workers Day or Labor Day. It is a public holiday in North Korea during which the working class are celebrated. It is one of many public holidays celebrated in North Korea alongside events such as Liberation Day and Victory Day.

Historically, May 1st has been a public holiday in many communist and socialist countries since it aligns very closely with the ideology communism. The celebration of International Workers Day is not isolated to North Korea; many countries, including the United States, celebrate the holiday. In the US it is known as ‘Labor Day’.

In North Korea – people often congregate in local parks to celebrate the holiday. The most popular being Mt. Taesong (Taesongsan) Park - to the north-west of Pyongyang. Dancing, drinking and picnicking are all common activities on the 1st of May in North Korea. The outdoor activities and celebrations may even be more extravagant than other national holidays since the weather around April/May is usually ideal.

When: May 1