Chuseok and Seollal
If you're invited, one small gift is enough. Warmth matters more than perfect etiquette.
The two holidays
- Seollal (lunar new year) — welcoming the new year. People eat tteokguk (rice cake soup) and perform sebae, a deep bow to elders. Children receive sebaetdon, new year money.
- Chuseok (15th day of the 8th lunar month) — giving thanks for the harvest. People make songpyeon rice cakes and visit ancestral graves.
What happens
- Charye — a rite offering food to ancestors. Many households, depending on family and religion, don't hold it.
- Seongmyo — visiting ancestors' graves.
- Sebae — at Seollal, bowing to elders and receiving words of blessing.
- Sharing food — jeon, namul, braised ribs, songpyeon, tteokguk.
- Family gatherings — relatives meet after a long interval.
When you're invited
- Bring a small gift — fruit, drinks or snacks are plenty. See gift-culture.
- Open with "안녕하세요, 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다" (thank you for inviting me).
- Tasting at least a little of each dish is considered courteous.
- Say in advance what you cannot eat for religious or dietary reasons.
- Asking "can I help?" makes a good impression.
Questions people ask
Do I have to take part in the rites? If your religion or beliefs make it difficult, say so politely. Most people understand; often simply being present quietly is enough.
How much new year money should I give? There is no set amount. Give what you can comfortably afford.
Preparing holiday food feels overwhelming. Many households now simplify or buy it in. Talk to the family in advance. If the burden turns into conflict, use family centre counselling. See mediation-family.
I'd like to mark my own country's festivals too. Migrant communities and family centres sometimes hold festivals from home countries. See immigrant-community.
Take care
Traffic around the holidays is severe. Buy train and bus tickets the day booking opens. Check which clinics and pharmacies are open and keep basic medicines in. If holiday stress escalates into family conflict, you can consult 1577-1366.
Related
holidays-korea · gift-culture · korean-etiquette · mediation-family · immigrant-community
Source
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism www.mcst.go.kr / As of 2026-08