Dong, Dong, Dongdaemun


[file:Dongdaemun_nori.wav|thumb|Song]
Dong, Dong, Dongdaemun 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.
Dongdaemun and Namdaemun are the old city gates of Seoul.

Lyrics

동, 동, 동대문을 열어라,
남, 남, 남대문을 열어라,
12시가 되면은,
문을 닫는다.
Dong, Dong, Dongdaemuneul yeoreora,
Nam, Nam, Namdaemuneul yeoreora,
Yeol dusiga doemyeoneun,
Muneul danneunda.
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


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The game

Two children are selected as the gatekeepers. They hold their both hands to form an arch so the other players can pass under it. Children start to sing the song as they pass through the gate one by one in a row. When the song ends, the gates are closed as the gatekeepers lower their hands and catch the child who was passing through the gate. The caught child becomes the new gatekeeper. Players can play another round to select the second gatekeeper, or they can replace the gatekeepers one by one after each turn of the game.