A Complete Guide to Celebrating the Seollal Holiday in South Korea

There's something special about travelling to South Korea during Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year). While the official holiday is a quiet and family-oriented event, the days and weeks leading up to Seollal are abuzz with pre-holiday energy, making it an exciting time to be in the country.

As one of the biggest holidays in South Korea, many people travel back to their hometowns to spend New Year's Day participating in traditional rituals and feasts with family.

For this reason, major cities like Seoul and Busan become surprisingly serene during the official holiday. This transformation offers a rare opportunity to explore these bustling metropolises at your own unhurried pace, free from the usual crowds.

No matter where you are during Seollal, you'll have the chance to see families dressed up in hanbok (traditional Korean clothing), playing folk games, and eating special New Year's foods, including Tteokguk (rice cake soup) and jeon (savory pancakes).

Planning a trip to South Korea during Seollal? This guide has everything you need to know about what to expect when travelling over the Korean Lunar New Year, from age-old traditions to essential travel tips.

The date of Seollal changes every year based on the lunar calendar, usually occurring in late January or February.

In 2026, the Year of the Horse, Korean Lunar New Year takes place on Tuesday 17 February. The official public holiday is scheduled from Monday 16 February to Wednesday 18 February.

Pro tip: Since this period involves significant national travel, securing your accommodation and inter-city transport (if required) well in advance is highly recommended.

There is always a frenetic energy in the days leading up to the Seollal holiday. People are busy shopping for gifts and groceries and making preparations to return to their hometowns. This bustling, pre-holiday period is a fun and festive time to arrive in South Korea.

Seollal itself is a deeply family-oriented holiday. If you are planning to travel to South Korea over the Korean Lunar New Year, you should expect things to be relatively quiet during the official three-day holiday, as many Koreans will spend this time at home. For travellers, this means a unique chance for greater access to major cultural sites.

Not sure what to expect? Here are some of the most traditional ways families celebrate Seollal in South Korea.

Food plays a major role in most Korean Lunar New Year celebrations. At many Seollal gatherings, you will often find Tteokguk (rice cake soup) on the menu. Traditionally, it is believed that eating tteokguk on Seollal will usher in good luck and fortune for the new year and symbolically make you one year older.

Other common Seollal staples include Jeon (battered Korean pancakes), Galbijjim (braised short ribs), and Japchae (sweet potato glass noodles).

Charye is one of the most important rituals of the Seollal holiday, focused on paying respect and expressing gratitude to ancestors. Family members meticulously prepare a ceremonial table with a selection of foods, fruits, and drinks. The whole family then comes together to enjoy a feast and receive blessings for the year ahead.

Sebae is a heartwarming tradition that truly embodies the spirit of Seollal. During this ritual, the younger generations don their vibrant hanbok and approach their elder family members to perform a deep, formal bow. This is a profound act of respect and a wish for the elders' health and well-being.

In return, the elders share words of blessing and wisdom (Deokdam) for the New Year, often concluding the ritual by gifting the children small, colorfully embroidered envelopes filled with Sebaetdon (New Year's money). This exchange symbolizes the passing of luck and fortune from one generation to the next.

Seollal is a wholesome, family-friendly holiday where games serve as a way to connect. These activities are a joyful part of the traditional celebration.

• Yutnori: Yutnori is easily the most popular Seollal game. This board game uses four sticks (Yutgarak) instead of dice. Families often play in teams, strategising and hoping for the lucky throw that signals a promising year ahead.
• Yeonnalligi: Yeonnalligi, or kite-flying, is a common activity during the Korean Lunar New Year that often carries a profound symbolic meaning. Participants traditionally write their bad luck or unfortunate wishes from the past year onto the kite, and then cut the string, symbolically sending away misfortune and welcoming a fresh start.
• Jegichagi: Similar to hacky sack, this physical game involves kicking a Jegi—a small, weighted shuttlecock—and keeping it from touching the ground. 
• Neolttwigi: Similar to a seesaw, participants stand on opposite ends of a long board and take turns jumping, launching the other player high into the air. This active game creates immediate laughter and is a wonderful expression of shared energy and synchronised fun.

Seollal is one of Korea’s biggest holidays and that can offer unique advantages, especially in major tourist hubs.

While government offices and banks close for the three-day holiday, not everything is shut for the Seollal holiday period.

• What's open: Major tourist districts like Myeong-dong, Hongdae, Gangnam, and Seongsu-dong in Seoul are lively. Major cultural attractions such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Korean Folk Village remain open and often host special events. Most franchise cafes, movie theatres, and convenience stores operate normally.
• Dining: While small, family-run restaurants may take a break, popular restaurants in trendy areas are often open to welcome holiday crowds.

Major cities like Seoul and Busan will be quieter than usual in the days leading up to Seollal, as many people travel to their hometowns for the holiday. This can be especially advantageous for visitors to the city. Here's what to expect:

• Traffic-free streets: The notorious Seoul traffic disappears as many residents visit their hometowns. This makes traveling within the city by taxi or bus incredibly fast and comfortable—a rarity!
• Cultural festivity: Major landmarks like Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Korean Folk Village fill with locals and tourists wearing Hanbok, creating a highly festive and photogenic atmosphere you won't find at other times of the year.

Due to the mass exodus from South Korea’s cities, trains and long-distance buses get booked up weeks in advance. For travellers, this makes early planning especially important when visiting over Seollal.

• Inter-city travel (avoid): Traveling between cities (e.g., Seoul to Busan) is extremely difficult, as KTX trains and express buses sell out months in advance due to the mass migration.
• Intra-city travel (recommended): Moving within Seoul and other major cities is a breeze. Subways and local buses are less crowded than usual.

Seollal is arguably the best time for unique cultural experiences, offering great value to travellers.

• Free entry: The Four Grand Palaces (including Gyeongbokgung) and Royal Tombs are typically free of charge during the holiday period, as are many national museums and art galleries.
• Special events: Museums and folk villages (like the Korean Folk Village and spots in Jeonju) often host special traditional games and performances, offering a deep dive into Korean culture.

There are so many incredible destinations in South Korea. These are a few options that are especially festive during the Seollal holiday.

The capital city is arguably the best place to ring in the Korean New Year. In addition to the best things to do in Seoul, you can get into the holiday spirit by dressing in traditional hanbok and participating in New Year's games and activities in places like Namsangol Hanok Village, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and the Korean Folk Village in nearby Yongin.

Located in Jeollabuk-do Province, Jeonju Hanok Village is perfect for an authentic and picturesque Seollal experience. You can enjoy the beauty of the town without the usual crowds, perfect for capturing photos of the traditional roofs. Key sites often host holiday events, and the village remains a haven for delicious traditional Korean cuisine, such as the famous Jeonju Bibimbap.

Suwon is an excellent destination for a cultural Seollal getaway, offering a reprieve from big-city rush. Travellers can experience unique New Year traditions by watching the sunrise from the Hwaseong Fortress wall (UNESCO) and participating in folk games at the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace or nearby Korean Folk Village.

A trip to Jeju Island over Seollal is the perfect option if you prefer natural attractions over big city energy. From hiking Hallasan Mountain to catching the sunrise from Seongsan Ilchulbong peak on New Year’s Day, Jeju Island's natural attractions are open for business over the holiday.

In 2026, Seollal falls on Tuesday 17 February. However, the official three-day public holiday is from Monday 18 February, until Wednesday 18 February.

Yes, Seollal is a public holiday in South Korea. The official public holiday usually lasts for three days and runs from the day before the New Year to the day after the New Year. The vast majority of South Koreans get this time off from work.

The best places to celebrate Seollal depend on what kind of experience you're looking for. Visiting Seoul during Seollal is ideal for culture and urban activities, with free admission and folk games at palaces. Seollal at Jeonju Hanok Village provides a deeply traditional and festive atmosphere. Celebrating Seollal in Suwon offers historical immersion at the Hwaseong Fortress, while Jeju Island provides a relaxing, scenic escape.

The best way to participate in Seollal is by embracing the many special public events. Renting a hanbok, visiting a palace like Gyeongbokgung to enjoy the traditional folk games (which are often free), checking out cultural performances at museums, and joining locals to watch the New Year's Day sunrise are all wonderful ways to engage in Seollal festivities respectfully.