(Feature image: WALASSE TING, Red Horse)
A Year at Full Gallop
Every twelve years, the Horse trots back into the Korean (or Chinese) zodiac, mane flying, nostrils flared, radiating that particular blend of vitality and don’t-fence-me-in swagger. The Horse is the zodiac’s kinetic extrovert: restless, charismatic, allergic to confinement. It prefers motion to meditation, pursuit to pause.
And starting on February 17, 2026, the Horse isn’t just back. It’s on fire.
Meet the Red Horse
The year is known in Korean as 병오년 (Byeong-o-nyeon) which means the Red Horse year. In the traditional Five Elements system, byeong corresponds to fire in its most yang form: solar, blazing, unapologetically bright. Think less candlelight, more noon sun in July. Red is its color. Heat is its temperament.
A Horse year comes around every dozen years. But a Red Horse year shows up only once every sixty. It’s the deluxe, turbocharged model in the zodiac showroom.
Put fire and horse together and you get acceleration squared. Symbolically, it’s a year that favors action over hesitation, leaps over deliberation. Momentum becomes a lifestyle choice. The mood tilts outward: expressive, intense, occasionally combustible. If regular Horse years gallop, Red Horse years bolt.
History’s Red Hot Years
The last Red Horse year was 1966, the year the Cultural Revolution erupted in China, unleashing a decade of upheaval that reshaped the country. The following year saw factional struggles intensify. Meanwhile, in the United States, the Civil Rights Movement surged forward amid mounting protests over the Vietnam War. The temperature, globally speaking, was not low.
No serious historian blames the zodiac. Dynasties don’t collapse because of horses, flaming or otherwise. But the metaphor lingers because it feels psychologically right. There are moments in history when conditions are dry, grievances stack like kindling, and all it takes is a spark.
Fire as Atmosphere
Fire, after all, is less about destiny than atmosphere. It spreads when fed. It accelerates what’s already in motion. A Red Horse year may feel like a climate report rather than a prophecy: heightened tempo, emotions running hot, decisions made quickly, and consequences arriving just as fast.
Think of it as a year to ride hard but keep a steady hand on the reins. Red Horse energy is infectious and can spark breakthroughs, adventures, and yes, a bit of chaos. The trick is channeling it, rather than getting trampled by it.
Fewer Babies Born in the Red Horse Years
In Korea, Red Horse years have long influenced family planning. In the last 병오년 (Byeong-o-nyeon) in 1966, birth rates dipped as some parents postponed having children, mindful of the old belief that Red Horse babies, especially girls, would grow up exceptionally strong-willed and independent. Yet there is a quiet upside to being born in a smaller cohort. Fewer classmates can mean less competition in school and later in the job market. And today, many see the Red Horse traits not as liabilities but as strengths. After all, a little fire can carry you far.
Saju: Read Your Daily Fortune
The Korean Zodiac is part of a larger fortune-telling culture called saju, or four pillars. This tradition is more academic than mystical and is based on statistics and data that have been studied for millennia. Read more about the fascinating world of saju including a personal daily fortune based on your birthday here.
If you are interested in having a personal session with a saju master, contact us for more information.
How do I know my Korean Zodiac sign or ddi?
Ddi refers to your zodiac animal based on the year you were born and it’s a big deal in Korea. A very common question you will hear among Koreans is ‘What’s your Ddi?’. When someone asks about your ddi, they are not only getting a sense of your personality as people in the West do with signs of the zodiac, but they may also be working out your age or making decisions about compatibility.
Though traditional superstitions are waning in Korea, many Koreans consider their ddi when making choices in career, finance, and marriage.
One’s ddi is so important in Korean superstition that you will often see a bumper crop of babies born on years considered to be extra lucky such as 2019, which was the year of the golden pig. The Korean Zodiac is also important in matchmaking as some animals are thought to be more compatible than others.
The 12 Animals of the Korean Zodiac
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
Each year of the Korean Zodiac is defined by an animal and is repeated every twelve years. Every animal has specific characteristics, which are shared by people born in their year. But remember that the animals are based on the lunar calendar, so if your birthday is in January of 1969, you are not a rooster but a monkey.
The order of the animals is said to be the result of a contest between the animals. When the gods wanted to decide which of them would be first, they had all the animals swim across a river to determine the order. The animals’ place would be decided by the order in which they reached the opposite bank. According to some legends about the Korean zodiac, the clever rat secretly jumped on the ox’s back and hitched a ride. But other stories have the ox generously agreeing to give the rat a ride. In both versions, as they approached the shore, the rat jumped off the oxen’s head and earned himself first place, with the ox following in second.
The Rat: the First Animal in the Korean Zodiac
Rat years: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
The clever rat won the race to the gods and the Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start. People born in a Rat year are said to be logical realists, shrewd, charming, ambitious, and inventive. People born in the Year of Rat are clever and bright, sociable and family-minded. They have broad interests and strong ability in adapting to the environment and are able to react accordingly to any changes. In the East, the rat is viewed in a more positive light than in the West.
Rat Compatibility:
-
- Most compatible with Dragons and Monkeys
- Least compatible with Horses
- In Korean the Rat is written as 쥐/ Jwi
The Ox
Ox years: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
The Ox symbolizes prosperity through fortitude and hard work. Those born under the influence of the Ox are seen as stable and persevering. The typical Ox is a tolerant person with strong character. Not many people could equal the resolution and fearlessness that the Ox exhibits when deciding to accomplish a task. Ox people work hard without complaints at work or at home. They know that they will succeed through hard work and sustained efforts, and do not believe in get-rich-quick schemes.
Ox Compatibility:
-
- Most compatible with Snakes and Roosters
- Least compatible with Sheep
- In Korean the Ox is written as 소/So
The Tiger
Tiger years: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
Tiger people are seen as sensitive, given to deep thinking and capable of great sympathy. They can be extremely short-tempered, however. Other people have great respect for them, but sometimes tiger people come into conflict with older people or those in authority. They sometimes cannot make up their minds, which can result in a poor, hasty decision or a sound decision arrived at too late. They can be suspicious of others, but also courageous and powerful. Every 60 years comes the Year of the White Tiger in the Korean zodiac, 2010 was one such year. Some consider the year of the White Tiger to be an unlucky year, while others maintain the opposite is true.
Tiger Compatibility:
-
- Most compatible with Horses and Dogs
- Least compatible with Monkeys
- In Korean the Tiger is written as 호랑이/Horangi
The Rabbit
Rabbit years: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
The Rabbit is a lucky sign in the Korean Zodiac. Rabbits are private individuals and a bit introverted. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are reasonably friendly individuals who enjoy the company of a group of good friends. They are good teachers, counselors and communicators but also need their own space.
Rabbit Compatibility:
-
- Most compatible with Sheep and Pigs
- Least compatible with Roosters
- In Korean the Rabbit is written as 토끼/Tokki
The Dragon
Dragon years: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
The Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. They prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usually successful. They’re driven, unafraid of challenge and willing to take risks. They’re passionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion. While Dragons frequently help others, rarely will they ask for help. Many are attracted to Dragons, especially their colorful personalities, but deep down, Dragons prefer to be alone.
Dragon Compatibility:
-
- Most compatible with Monkeys and Rats
- Least compatible with Dogs
- In Korean the Dragon is written as 용/Yong
The Snake
Snake years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
The snake is the most enigmatic, intuitive, introspective, refined and collected in the Korean Zodiac. People born in the Year of the Snake are keen and cunning, quite intelligent and wise. They are great mediators and good at doing business.
Snake Compatibility:
-
- Most compatible with Roosters and Oxen
- Least compatible with Pigs
- In Korean the Snake is written as 뱀/Baem
The Horse
Horse years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
People born in the Year of the Horse are popular. They are seen as cheerful, skillful with money and perceptive, although they sometimes talk too much. They are wise, talented, good with their hands and sometimes have a weakness for members of the opposite sex. They are impatient and hot-blooded about everything except their daily work. They like entertainment and large crowds. They are very independent and rarely listen to advice. For this reason, in Korea, women born in the year of the horse were not desirable brides – they were said to be too independent, especially those born in the year of the white horse, which last occurred in 2002.
Horse Compatibility:
-
- Most compatible with Dogs and Tigers
- Least compatible with Rats
- In Korean the Horse is written as 말/Mal
The Sheep
Sheep years: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
Year of the Sheep. People born in the year of the Sheep are described as elegant, intelligent, dependable, calm individuals, who are very creative and often accomplished artists. They can be shy, pessimistic and puzzled about life and prefer to be alone. Most despise being the center of attention but enjoy being part of a group.
Sheep Compatibility:
-
- Most compatible with Pigs and Rabbits
- Least compatible with Oxen
- In Korean the Sheep is written as 양/Yang
The Monkey
Monkey years: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
People born in the Year of the Monkey are the erratic geniuses of the animal signs. Clever, skillful, and flexible, they are remarkably inventive and original and can solve the most difficult problems with ease. They are good at assessing risk and financial problems. Monkeys are the ultimate diplomats and slip in and out of sticky situations with ease.
Monkey Compatibility:
-
- Most compatible with Rats and Dragons
- Least compatible with Tigers
- In Korean the Monkey is written as 원숭이/Wonsungi
The Rooster
Rooster years: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
Persons born in a Rooster year are said to be shrewd, industrious, outspoken and definite when making decisions. Many are extravagant and have a bit of the dreamer in them. In a Rooster year, it is important to consider all the positives and negatives before making major decisions. Read the fine print carefully, because that is where unpleasant surprises reside. It takes hard work to maintain partnerships begun in a Rooster year.
Rooster Compatibility:
-
- Most compatible with Oxen and Snakes
- Least compatible with Rabbits
- In Korean the Rooster is written as 닭/Dalk
The Dog
Dog years: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. They have a deep sense of loyalty, are honest and inspire other people’s confidence because they know how to keep secrets. They can also be somewhat selfish, terribly stubborn and eccentric. They care little for wealth, yet somehow always seem to have money. Dog sign people make good leaders.
Dog Compatibility:
-
- Most compatible with Tigers and Horses
- Least compatible with Dragons
- In Korean the Dog is written as 개/Gae
The Pig: the Last Animal in the Korean Zodiac
Pig years: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031
The Pig is the last of the animal in the Korean Zodiac cycle and is often associated with luck, fertility and virility. People born in the Year of the Pig are said to be chivalrous and gallant. They don’t make many friends but they make them for life. It is said that anyone having a Boar Year friend is fortunate for they are extremely loyal. They don’t talk much but have a great thirst for knowledge. They study a great deal and are generally well informed.
Pig Compatibility:
-
- Pig compatible with Rabbits and Sheep
- Least compatible with Snakes
- In Korean the Pig is written as 돼지/Dwaeji
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