What to do in Seoul for Lunar New Year weekend
Foreign visitors wearing Hanbok visit Gyeongbok Palace last Sept. 17, ahead of the Chuseok long weekend. / Korea Times file by Choi Won-suk
By Hallie Bradley
The Lunar New Year, called “Seollal” in Korea, is coming up on Feb. 5 and there are plans to be made for the holiday that lasts from Feb. 4 to 6, as well as the weekend preceding this period, giving most people a five-day holiday. Traditionally, Koreans would travel to their family homes for ceremonies and rites to celebrate the coming of the New Year. Waking in the early morning, they dress in hanbok, traditional Korean clothing, and pay respects to their ancestors.
Today, many Koreans opt to head for the mountains to ski or go abroad over the first major holiday of the year. This means Seoul is left with quieter streets than are commonly seen. While many mom-and-pop shops may be shuttered, plenty of major attractions and theme parks will be open and with fun holiday events. Here are some spots to check out in Seoul this Seollal.
These spots will have special events and experiences for the entire duration of the holiday.
Namsangol Hanok Village: Visit this beautiful traditional village in the center of Seoul that opens its doors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and provides traditional Korean activities and experiences throughout the day. This year for a special treat, in the evening on Feb. 4 and 5, visit the village to see Kim Mae Ja dance and musicians perform in a program titled “Shining Light” from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. for just 5,000 won. Visit
for more information.
Korean Folk Village: The Korean Folk Village will be open the entire weekend from Feb. 2 to 6 with holiday events throughout the day including kite flying, rice cake pounding, fortune telling and traditional performances, dances and tightrope shows. Visit between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to take part. Go to
Looking to attend a performance? There are some great options to choose from including:
The National Theater of Korea will present a special holiday performance on Feb. 5 and 6 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for 30,000 won. Visit
.
Myeongdong Nanta Theatre will present their wildly popular performance throughout the holiday period at 2 p.m., 5 p.m., and 8 p.m. See
The National Gugak Center preserves and promotes traditional Korean music and performance. On Feb. 5 and 6, visitors can watch a performance from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. celebrating the Year of the Golden Pig. Tickets are just 10,000 won. See
Seoul's Palaces: If any of the palaces are still on your list of sites to visit, this is the time to go. All of the palaces will be open and will be showcasing various programs for guests to enjoy, from traditional rituals to games and performances.
Hangang River Ferry Cruise: Want to see the city from a different perspective? Eland Cruise will be ferrying people around the Han River throughout the holiday. Enjoy views of Seoul from the water. Cruises may feature performances and/or a buffet depending on which you choose. Visit
These places will be closed on Feb. 5, but will be open on the day prior and after.
National Museum of Korea: This is the largest museum in Korea and thus could require multiple visits to really see it all. Visit once, twice or three times over this upcoming break to view it all. Go to
National Folk Museum of Korea: Located inside of the Gyeongbok Palace grounds, this museum features three permanent exhibitions and two special exhibits. Visit the palace and this museum for a great day out in the city. Find
The War Memorial of Korea: This free museum which encompasses six separate halls as well as features a park with various planes and other military statues and relics in front is a must visit for anyone in Korea. Go to
These are just some of the spots in Seoul that will be open and welcoming visitors this upcoming holiday break. Enjoy the holiday in traditional style with a stop in any one or all of them.
Hallie Bradley is a writer based in Seoul and also has the blog thesoulofseoul.net.