6 activities to do during Seollal in Seoul
Is your trip to Seoul coming up, but you weren’t aware of the upcoming holidays? KoreaTravelEasy has the perfect suggestions for you!
What is Seollal?
Seollal (설날), or Korean Lunar New Year is a holiday and celebration which marks the first day of the Korean Lunar calender.
In 2025 is celebrated on January 29th, but is usually celebrated for a three day period (27th-30th). Seollal is a time for family gatherings, honoring ancestors with the charye ritual, playing games like Jegichagi and Yunnori, and exchanging gifts through Sebae. Families enjoy foods like tteokguk (rice cake soup), marking Lunar birthdays. Overall, the holiday is filled with fun but can leave you exhausted from the food and festivities.
Due to this holiday, many family-owned businesses and shops may be closed. In this blog post, we will give you some ideas on how to put Seollal on your itinerary in Seoul!
1. The Namsangol Hanok Village│남산골한옥마을
Visitors to Namsangol Hanok Village can take part in activities including making kites, spinning tops, and masks and eating rice cakes. There will be traditional performances and the traditional ancestral rites are demonstrated as well.
2. Seoul N Tower (Namsan Tower)│서울 N 타워 (남산타워)
During Seollal in Seoul, outdoor performances and activities are a must-do. Immortalize your love with a lock, or simply enjoy the stunning views of the city. Don’t miss the opportunity to watch a breathtaking sunset from Namsan, as the sky transforms into a beautiful canvas over Seoul’s skyline, adding a special touch to your Seollal celebration.
3. National Folk Museum of Korea│국립민속박물관
Situated on the historic grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea is holding an exhibit centered on the Year of the Snake. The museum provides a fascinating glimpse into the daily lives of Koreans from the Paleolithic period to the 20th century.
4. The Korean Folk Village│한국민속촌
The Korean Folk Village offers a wide range of exciting activities, with winter bringing the thrill of sledding. Visitors can enjoy face painting, horse petting, kite flying, rice cake pounding, and fortune telling, along with traditional performances, tightrope acrobatics, dancing, and horse shows scheduled throughout the day.
5. The Five Grand Palaces in Seoul│서울 5대 궁궐
- Free Entry to Palaces and Royal Tombs (January 25–30, 6 Days):
During the Seollal solstice, visitors are granted free access to the Four Grand Palaces (except Changdeokgung Rear Garden), Jongmyo Shrine, and Joseon Royal Tombs (including Won and Myo sites) Jongmyo Shrine, which is typically reservation-only, will also be open for free exploration during this period.Note: All sites will be closed on January 31 following the free entry period.
- Sehwa Sharing Event at Gyeongbokgung Palace (January 28–30):
Gyeongbukgung is the hotspot for Seollal activities. Held at Heungnyemun Square in Gyeongbokgung Palace, in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Promotion Agency, Sehwa events will take place. To make it even more festive, you can rent a Hanbok before entering the palace!
- 2025 New Year’s painting (Sehwa) Theme: A collaboration with artist Son Yoo-young featuring a “Blue Snake and Gatekeepers with Cats” design.
- New Year’s painting (Sehwa) Distribution:
- After the Royal Guard Ceremony (10:00 AM and 2:00 PM daily).
- 6,000 copies distributed (1,000 copies per session at 10:20 AM and 2:20 PM).
- Available digitally via QR codes on-site or the Cultural Heritage Promotion Agency website
6. Visit Theme parks such as Lotte World or Everland
- Lotte World (롯데월드)
Prepare yourself for exciting celebrations with the folk Performance Parades, daily until February 16 at 5:00 PM. A vibrant folk performance presented in a parade format, featuring various traditional acts awaits the visitors to create a festive atmosphere during Seollal. This popular annual event is cherished by visitors for its cultural richness and entertainment.
Purchase your tickets to Lotte World with a discount through our website here.
- Everland (에버랜드)
Everland offers a wide variety of fun activities during Seollal.
Traditional Game Experiences at Carnival Plaza (Daily from 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM)
Visitors can enjoy five traditional games featured in dramas, including Ttakji Chigi, Biseok Chigi, Gonggi Nori, Top Spinning, and Jegichagi. It’s open for all, with activities conducted along a track drawn on the ground. A Mini Board Game Zone is also available, where players compete to reach the top first through Rock-Paper-Scissors, evoking childhood memories.
Hanbok Photo Time
Carnival Plaza hosts four daily sessions where characters Reni and Lala in hanbok take photos with visitors.
Welcoming Visitors in Hanbok
Staff dressed in hanbok greet guests at the Everland main entrance, adding a festive touch to the experience.
Hopefully you now have the perfect ideas for your Seollal itinerary and spend it well! KoreaTravelEasy wishes you a happy New Year.
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Celebrating Seollal: Korean New Year Traditions and Celebrations
While Christmas in Korea is usually a time for celebrating with friends or for going on dates, Seollal, like Chuseok, is more of a family-based celebration. Many Koreans travel back to their family homes during this period.
Seollal
Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, is one of the most significant and enjoyable holidays in South Korea. It marks the beginning of the lunar calendar, and families come together to honor their ancestors, share festive meals, and enjoy time with loved ones. The holiday is a beautiful blend of tradition and family bonding.
Activities
Seollal is not only about feasting but also about engaging in traditional activities. One of the most iconic traditions is sebae, a formal bow performed by children to show respect to their elders. Families also gather to play traditional games like yunnori, a board game involving sticks, and jegichagi, a fun game where participants kick a weighted cloth ball to keep it in the air. What you also can do is rent a Hanbok and visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace, go to a ski resort to spend the holiday or go to the Korean folk village for a special new year performance.
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Gifts
Gift-giving is a meaningful part of Seollal celebrations, reflecting respect and gratitude. Common gifts include money, which is often presented in colorful envelopes, or practical items like health supplements, gift sets, clothes, and luxury food items. This gesture is meant to show appreciation for family members and friends, especially for older relatives. Also, in the workspace, the boss gifts the employees New Year gifts.
△ Traditional Korean Envelope for Sebatdon (세뱃돈, Gift of Money)
Food
Food plays a central role in Seollal celebrations. The highlight of the holiday meal is tteokguk, a soup made with thinly sliced rice cakes, Representing the passing of time and getting a year older. Other traditional dishes include jeon (savory pancakes) duk-guk (soup) and kimchi. These meals are often prepared together by families. There are many other sweet things that you can try as well:
- Japchae (잡채, Stir-fried Glass Noodles)
Japchae is another must-have dish during traditional Korean holidays. Made with glass noodles stir-fried with spinach, carrots, onions, and beef, it is seasoned with soy sauce and has a slightly sweet flavor. The chewy texture and balanced taste make it a delightful dish. It’s often featured in Korean variety shows, where foreign visitors enjoy it wholeheartedly. Highly recommended!
- Galbijjim (갈비찜, Braised Short Ribs)
Koreans love braised short ribs, a dish that is never missing from traditional celebrations or birthdays! When preparing galbijjim, vegetables, short ribs, and sauce are cooked together until the broth is absorbed. Once the sauce thickens, Korean glass noodles (dangmyeon) are added, creating a perfect pairing. While the sauce might taste somewhat similar to Korean stir-fried beef, braised short ribs are richer in flavor, with a delightful sweetness. Mixing the sauce with rice makes it even more delicious.
△ Galbijjim (left) │ Japchae (right)
- Hangwa (한과, Korean Sweets)
Korean traditional snacks, Hangwa, include varieties like Yakgwa, and Yugwa. These sweets are characterized by their chewy texture and sweetness. (약과, Honey Cookies): A honey-infused dough made from flour and sesame oil, deep-fried, and coated with malt syrup or honey. These treats are not only flavorful but also visually stunning. Yugwa (유과, rice puff): Among the most elaborate snacks made from glutinous rice, Yugwa is crispy and makes a delightful sound when bitten into—my personal favourite!
△ Yugwa (left) │ Hangwa (right)
You should definitely try this out when you have the chance.
Korean traditions during Seollal
- Wearing 한복 (Hanbok)
During Seollal, many Koreans wear the beautiful and colorful hanbok, the traditional Korean dress. Wearing a hanbok is a way of honoring cultural heritage and adding an extra touch of elegance to the holiday celebrations.
- 사주 (Saju│Fortune-Telling)
For many, the start of the new year is an opportunity to seek guidance for the future. One common practice during Seollal is visiting a saju fortune-teller, who interprets the five elements based on a person’s birth year, month, day, and time. The predictions offer insights into one’s fate, career, relationships, and health, giving people a sense of direction as they step into the new year.
- Watching the First 해돋이 (Haedoji│Sunrise)
Some Koreans mark the new year by waking up early to watch the first haedoji, or sunrise. This tradition is rooted in the belief that watching the year’s first sunrise brings good fortune and a fresh start.
- Preparing and eating 만두 (Mandu)
Korean dumplings are what most Koreans eat during Seollal. They are filled with minced meat, vegetables, and sometimes kimchi. Making Mandu is a family activity where members come together to prepare and share these treats.
- 연날리기 (Yeonnalligi | Kite-Flying)
Another popular Seollal activity is yeonnalligi, or kite-flying. Traditionally, flying a kite during Seollal symbolizes letting go of past misfortunes and inviting good luck into the new year. Families and friends gather in open fields to fly colorful kites, filling the sky with vibrant hues and cheerful energy. It’s a fun and playful way to celebrate the new year’s arrival.
- 윷놀이 (Yunnori)
Yunnori is a traditional New Year’s game enjoyed by people of all ages as part of village festivals in the first lunar month. While it is played for fun, Yutnori also carries the hopes of a bountiful harvest in Korea’s agrarian society. The game board symbolizes farmland, and the game pieces represent the seasons.
Seollal New Year is all about celebrating the new year with family, traditional food, and games. Are you going to spend the new year of Seollal in Korea?
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2025 D Awards with Upick @Korea University Hwajeong Gymnasium
2025 D Awards with Upick @Korea University Hwajeong Gymnasium
- Date: 22nd February, 2025 (Sat)
- Time: 18:00 pm
- Location: Korea University Hwajeong Gymnasium
- MC: Go Minsi, Lee Jongwon
- LINE-UP: ENHYPEN, QWER, Fifty Fifty, TWS, UNIS, N.Flying, P1Harmony, tripleS, ZEROBASEONE, 82MAJOR
Hosted by Sports Donga, Korea’s leading sports and entertainment daily, the 2025 D Awards will take place on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Hwajeong Gymnasium, Korea University, Seoul.
A Celebration of K-pop’s Dreams and Delights
The D Awards were established to celebrate K-pop’s global impact and honor the artists at its forefront. Recognizing that K-pop has captivated audiences worldwide by delivering “Dreams” and “Delights,” this prestigious event aims to promote further and inspire the genre’s continued success.
Award Categories
The ceremony will feature two main award categories:
- D Awards Delights – Honoring K-pop artists who achieved significant milestones over the past year.
- D Awards Dreamers – Celebrating exceptional rookies set to lead the future of K-content.
Additionally, the YEARS titles will recognize the best of 2024, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Performance of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Globalist of the Year. The event will also shine a spotlight on K-pop’s past, present, and future through the ICONIC awards, which will recognize influential figures and groups that have defined the industry.
Save the Date!
Don’t miss this extraordinary celebration of K-pop, which will feature unforgettable performances, heartfelt acceptance speeches, and moments that will go down in history. Stay tuned for more updates on the event lineup and schedule!
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