Korean New Year

📣 Traveler notes

South Korea is an affluent East Asian nation blending historical tradition and modern technology. While popular culture attracts global tourism, the country maintains deep respect for its ancient history. Travelers should note that major traditional holidays, including Lunar New Year, follow the lunar calendar, requiring significant advance planning.

• Major holidays like Seollal and Chuseok lead to high population movement and packed transportation, requiring travel planning. Banks and government offices close during major holidays.
• Seollal is a public holiday lasting three days, resulting in the closure of many shops and restaurants.
• Because the holiday calendar uses the lunar cycle, specific dates vary annually relative to the Gregorian calendar.
• Korean utensils include a spoon and metal chopsticks; spoons are used for rice and soup, while chopsticks are for other foods. Communal dishes are served family style, but individual rice and soup portions are provided. Avoid speaking loudly or making noise with utensils while eating. Key etiquette tips include: do not stick chopsticks upright in a dish, wait for the eldest person to start eating, and do not lift dishes from the table.