Dong, Dong, Dongdaemun is a nursery rhyme

Nursery rhyme

The term nursery rhyme is used for "traditional" poems for young children in Britain and many other countries, but usage only dates from the 19th century and in North America the older ‘Mother Goose Rhymes’ is still often used.-Lullabies:...

 sung among Korea

Korea

Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...

n children, usually while playing a game. It is also the name of the game.

Dongdaemun is most likely to refer directly to the real Dongdaemun

Dongdaemun

Heunginjimun, literally "Gate of Rising Benevolence" or more commonly known as Dongdaemun, is a prominent landmark in central Seoul, South Korea. The Korean name "Dongdaemun" means "Great East Gate," and it was so named because it was the major eastern gate in the wall that surrounded Seoul during...

 (Heunginjimun, the East Grand Gate) of Seoul, and Namdaemun to the real Namdaemun (Sungnyemun, the South Grand Gate).

Lyrics

(Variations may exist in different regions of the country.)

• In Hangeul

동, 동, 동대문을 열어라,

남, 남, 남대문을 열어라,

열 두시가 되면은, (or 지나면,)

문을 닫는다.

• In Revised Romanisation
  Revised Romanization of Korean
  The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language romanization system in South Korea proclaimed by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, replacing the older McCune–Reischauer system...
  
  :

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 it's at twelve sharp,

The Gates are closed.

The game

Two children are selected as the gatekeepers (or the gate itself). 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 gatekeeepers one by one after each turn of the game.

See also

• Oranges and Lemons
  Oranges and Lemons
  "Oranges and Lemons" is an English nursery rhyme and singing game which refers to the bells of several churches, all within or close to the City of London. It is listed in the Roud Folk Song Index as #3190.-Lyrics:Common modern versions include:...
  
  , English nursery rhyme for playing a similar game
• London Bridge is Falling Down
  London Bridge is Falling Down
  "London Bridge Is Falling Down" is a well-known traditional nursery rhyme and singing game, which is found in different versions all over the world. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 502.-Lyrics:...
  
  , another English nursery rhyme for playing a similar game