[6] In Korean mythology, Dangun's ancestry legend begins with his grandfather Hwanin (환인; 桓因), the "Lord of Heaven".

Along with his ministers of clouds, rain and wind, he instituted laws and moral codes and taught humans various arts, medicine, and agriculture.

Upon hearing their prayers, Hwanung gave them twenty cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort, ordering them to eat only this sacred food and remain out of the sunlight for 100 days.

However, she lacked a husband, and soon became sad and prayed beneath a "divine birch" tree (신단수; 神檀樹; shindansu) to be blessed with a child.

[14] Until 1961, the official South Korean era (for numbering years) was called the Dangi (단기; 檀紀), which began in 2333 BC.

In Korea at the end of the 19th century, it was greatly emphasized to highlight the resistance of the Joseon people against Imperialist invasion, and it developed into a religion, Dangunkyo (단군교; 檀君敎).

Dangun, who emerged as the central figure of nationalism, played a large role in the spiritual foundation of the independence movement during the Japanese colonial period.

In South Korea, Dangun Wanggeom is regarded as the head of the Gojoseon society, with many characteristics of the role of high priest.

The earliest recorded version of the Dangun legend appears in the 13th century Samguk yusa, which cites China's Book of Wei and Korea's lost history text Gogi (고기; 古記).

[17] This is the best known and most studied version, but similar versions are recorded in the Jewang Un-gi by the late Goryeo scholar Yi Seunghyu (이승휴; 李承休, 1224–1300), as well as the Eungje Siju (응제시주; 應製詩註) and Sejong Sillok (세종실록; commonly known as "Annals of the Joseon Dynasty", Sejong Jang-heon Dae-wang Shil-lok; 세종장헌대왕실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄) of the early Joseon.

"[19] North Korea's leader Kim Il Sung insisted that Dangun was not merely a legend but a real historical person.