Seollal is the Korean Lunar New Year and one of the two biggest holidays of the year. It is a three-day holiday (the day before, the day itself and the day after), and the date moves each year because it follows the lunar calendar.
What happens
- Family gatherings – many people travel to their hometowns, so trains and highways are very busy.
- Sebae – younger people bow deeply to their elders and wish them good health; elders often reply with kind words and sometimes a little pocket money.
- Tteokguk – a soup of sliced rice cakes. Traditionally, eating it means you have grown a year older.
- Yutnori – a traditional family board game played with four wooden sticks.
- Hanbok – many families wear traditional clothes for the day.
Tips for visitors
- Many small shops and restaurants close for the holiday, while convenience stores, big malls and tourist areas usually stay open.
- Book trains and buses early if you plan to travel.
- Palaces and folk villages often hold traditional events and games around the holiday.