Dong, Dong, Dongdaemun
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Dong, Dong, Dongdaemun (Korean: 『동, 동, 동대문』) is a nursery rhyme sung among Korean children, usually while playing a game. It is also the name of the game. Its melody starts identically to the German children's song "Lasst uns froh und munter sein", but ends differently.[1]
Dongdaemun and Namdaemun are the old city gates of Seoul.
(Variations may exist in different regions of the country.)
- In Hangul
동, 동, 동대문을 열어라,
남, 남, 남대문을 열어라,
12시가 되면은, (or 지나면,)
문을 닫는다.
Dong, Dong, Dongdaemuneul yeoreora,
Nam, Nam, Namdaemuneul yeoreora,
Yeol dusiga doemyeoneun, (or Yeol dusiga jinamyeon,)
Muneul danneunda.
- Translation
Open the East, East, East Grand Gate,
Open the South, South, South Grand Gate,
When the time hits twelve sharp,
The Gates will be closed shut.
Melody
