Special Events for Lunar New Year’s Day in Korea
Seollal, also known as Lunar New Year, is a national holiday celebrated throughout Korea. Seollal takes place on the first day of the lunar calendar. Koreans observe several special customs like wearing hanbok (Korean traditional clothes), bowing to family elders, exchanging well wishes, and eating tteokguk (sliced rice cake soup). The official holiday is a three-day period from February 18 to 20, 2015. During this time, many traditional cultural events and performances are held at tourist areas in Seoul. Visit one of the following events and participate to make this year’s Seollal holiday become an unforgettable memory.
1) Namsangol Hanok Village : Five Nobleman’s Seollal Feast 2015
Event info at Namsangol Hanok Village
| ☞ Period: February 19 (Thursday) – 21 (Saturday), 2015☞ Location: The area of Pil-dong 2(i)-ga, 28, Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul☞ Website: hanokmaeul.seoul.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) |
Namsangol Hanok Village in Seoul will hold a variety of events, such as traditional performances, folk games, and traditional experience programs from February 19 to 21, 2015. Visitors can take part in traditional Seollal customs like sharing tteokguk (sliced rice cake soup), pounding steamed rice into cake, and writing wishes for the New Year. Fun folk games such as jegichagi (Korean hacky sack game), paengichigi (top-spinning game) and tuhonori (arrow-throwing game) are also prepared for visitors to enjoy.
2) Korean Folk Village : Good Luck Feast for Welcoming the New Year 2015
Event Info at Korean Folk Village
| ☞ Period: February 7 (Saturday) – 22 (Sunday), 2015☞ Location: Bora-dong 90, Minsokchon-ro, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do☞ Inquiries: +82-31-288-0000 (Korean, English, Japanese)☞ Website: www.koreanfolk.co.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)☞ Related Column Yongin City Tour |
In celebration of Seollal, the Korean Folk Village will host Seollal events for all family members to enjoy from February 7 to February 22, 2015. Special events to welcome the New Year include daljiptaeugi (sheaf burning), jisinbalgi (praying for abundance through music), sharing tteokguk (sliced rice cake soup) and fortune telling. Also, participants can get their faces painted or exchange words of blessing, called ‘deokdam’ at the deokdam photo zone. A traditional Korean dance will be performed on February 19 (Seollal day) and a gugak b-boy dance performance will take place on February 20 and 21. The Korean Folk Village offers visitors dressed in hanbok a ‘day pass’ at a 50% discounted rate.
3) National Folk Museum of Korea : Seol Grand Festival
Event Info at National Folk Museum of Korea
| ☞ Period: February 18 (Wednesday) – 22 (Sunday), 2015 * Closed every Tuesday.☞ Location: 37, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul☞ Website: www.nfm.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, German, French, Spanish)☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)☞ Related column: What is ‘Sibijisin’? |
The National Folk Museum of Korea, located in Gyeongbokgung Palace, will hold a special exhibition titled ‘Seol Grand Festival with National Folk Museum of Korea’. In celebrating the year of the sheep, many sheep-related cultural programs are to be offered at the event from February 18 to February 22, 2015. Museum visitors can join arts and crafts classes, making a tray with hanji (traditional Korean paper), a sheep doll or a bokjori (a lucky bag). Also, the festival aims to spread holiday cheer through fun folk games like paengichigi (top-spinning game), jegichagi (Korean hacky sack game) and Yutnori (Korean board game).
4) Unhyeongung Royal Residence :Celebration of New Year , The more the merrier!
Event Info at Unhyeongung Royal Residence
| ☞ Period: February 18 (Wednesday) – February 20 (Friday) , 2015☞ Location: Unni-dong 464, Samil-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul.☞ Website: unhyeongung.or.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)※ Please be advised that the above information is subject to change. |
Unhyeongung Royal Residence will hold Seollal events from February 18 to February 20, 2015. The special exhibition of Charyesang (ancestor memorial service table) will offer a great opportunity to learn about Korean customs and the folk games set to welcome visitors are sure to bring smiles and laughter.
