Which calendar does South Korea celebrate Tet? Should you travel to South Korea during the Lunar New Year?

Like many countries in Asia, Tet - the New Year celebration is always an important occasion in Korea with many attractive customs and traditions. So Which calendar does South Korea celebrate Tet? Should you travel to South Korea during the Lunar New Year? Let's explore with Vietjet in the article below.

1. Which calendar does South Korea follow for Tet?

Korea celebrates the Lunar New Year according to both the solar and lunar calendars. In particular, the Lunar New Year (Seollal) is calculated according to the lunar calendar (perpetual calendar) and usually falls around the end of January to the beginning of February. This is the biggest holiday of the year, associated with a long vacation and activities such as family reunions, celebrations, and the performance of traditional rituals.

New Year's Day (Shinjeong) may not be as bustling as Lunar New Year, but it is still a much-anticipated holiday. The New Year's Day holiday in South Korea usually lasts for 1 day, on January 1st each year.

New Year's Day in South Korea coincides with the cold winter season.

2. Lunar New Year Travel in South Korea

2.1 Korean Weather during Lunar New Year

The New Year's holiday coincides with the cold winter in South Korea, with average temperatures ranging from -5°C to 3°C, which can drop lower in the highlands. At this time, snow falls continuously and heavily, turning many roads into a whiteout. Although not a tourism peak like South Korea during the New Year's holiday, it attracts many people who love sports such as skiing, enjoy the cold atmosphere of Northeast Asia, along with many activities to celebrate the beginning of the festival season.

2.2 Where to go in Korea for New Year's holiday?

Myeongdong Catholic Church: Visiting Korea during the Gregorian New Year, tourists should not miss the Myeongdong Catholic Church located right in the center of Seoul. This place is one of the symbols of the capital of Korea, attracting visitors all year round, especially during December - January. The entire church is decorated with a Christmas theme, sparkling in the brilliant lights and hosting many solemn ceremonies. Around the church, there is a small market for you to search for Christmas decorations, souvenirs, and attractive street food.

Myeongdong Catholic Church is a famous place in Seoul.

Lotte World and Everland: Both Lotte World and Everland are top amusement parks in South Korea, becoming the dream destination for millions of people when visiting the land of kimchi. The common point of these two parks is the extremely grand decoration at the end of the year, organizing many special performances and having a skiing area for winter sports enthusiasts.
Pinocchio Village in Gapyeong: Recreating the magical world of Pinocchio, Pinocchio Village will take visitors on a journey to explore the world of the wooden boy with many interactive games, check-in at the village inspired by Italy, learn about the life of Pinocchio, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance culture.
Morning Calm Garden Light Festival: Winter is the time when the Morning Calm garden becomes more mystical than ever with the light festival lasting from November to March. At this time, the peaceful garden is like a fairy world with millions of LED bulbs arranged artistically, creating unique light sculpture works.
Skiing at resorts: South Korea is famous for its modern, world-class ski resorts, attracting millions of tourists every winter. When visiting, tourists can combine relaxation and experience the popular sport in this cold country. Some famous places you can refer to are Yongpyong Ski Resort - the venue for the 2018 Winter Olympics, Phoenix Park - the 4th largest ski resort in South Korea and once chosen as the setting for the famous Autumn in My Heart drama, High1 Ski Resort - a place that gives you a stunning view from above,...

Skiing is an activity not to be missed when visiting Korea during the Lunar New Year.

See more: Self-sufficient winter travel in Korea: Where to go, What to eat, Where to stay?

2.3 What to eat in Korea during the Lunar New Year?

Koreans celebrate Lunar New Year, so they also prepare traditional dishes for the New Year during this time. However, if you travel to Korea during the Gregorian New Year, you can fully explore the diverse cuisine of the land of kimchi with many delicious dishes such as spicy rice cakes, hot kimchi hotpot, famous grilled meat,... Below are some suggestions for characteristic dishes suitable for the cold weather in Korea during the new year:

Sundubu-jjigae: The main ingredient of this dish is soft, silky tofu, cooked with spicy, richly flavored broth. Additionally, depending on preference, one can add various types of seafood such as shrimp, squid, clams, beef, pork, vegetables,... The spicy flavor harmoniously combined with the sweet, clear broth, kept warm in a thermal clay pot, makes this dish extremely suitable for cold winter days.
Hotteok: This is a traditional sweet cake made from wheat flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and honey,... shaped into flat round pieces, with filling in the middle and evenly fried on both sides. Despite the simple ingredients, the flavor of hotteok is extremely
Jeju Tangerines: If you have the opportunity to visit Jeju - South Korea during the Gregorian New Year, don't miss the chance to visit the ripe tangerine garden with a beautiful scene like a movie. Tangerines on Jeju Island are famous for their specialty with a sweet, juicy taste and extremely refreshing. Especially from November to February is the period when tangerines are in full bloom and most delicious.

3. Notes for Traveling to Korea During New Year's Holiday

Although not as many traditional rituals as Lunar New Year, the Solar New Year in Korea is still very interesting with many celebratory activities and a bustling winter festival atmosphere.
Coming to Korea at this time, visitors should prepare many warm clothes and carefully moisturize due to the low, dry temperatures.
To have the most complete experience, you should familiarize yourself with the schedule of events, music, and festivals celebrating the New Year. Through this, you can arrange your travel plans reasonably.
Airfare and hotel prices in major cities may be scarce during holidays and festivals. Therefore, you should buy plane tickets early, 2 - 3 months in advance, and book rooms 1 - 2 months in advance to get a reasonable price.

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