Constitution Day

📣 Traveler notes

South Korea is an affluent East Asian country and a global cultural hub, notably known for K-pop. It successfully blends modernity and a high-tech lifestyle with strong traditions and well-preserved historical sites, serving as a cultural link between China and Japan.

• Major family holidays (Lunar New Year/Seollal and Chuseok) lead to mass travel and transport congestion; plan trips accordingly.
• Banks and government offices are closed on other public holidays.
• Lunar New Year (Seollal) (1st day of 1st lunar month, Jan-Feb) is a three-day family holiday, restricting access to shops and restaurants.
• Independence Movement Day (March 1st) commemorates the 1919 resistance against Japanese colonial rule.
• New Year's Day is celebrated on January 1st.
• Standard Korean utensils include a metal spoon and chopsticks; use the spoon for rice, soup, and porridge. Western cutlery (fork/knife) is suitable for specific dishes like fried cutlets. When eating, dishes are often served family-style, but individual servings of rice and soup are provided. It is customary to maintain silence during meals. Avoid placing chopsticks or spoons vertically in food, as this practice is associated with funeral rites.