Korean New Year's Eve

What Is Korean New Year’s Eve?

Korean New Year’s Eve, often referred to as Seollal-eop (설날 전날) or Seotdal Geumeum (섣달 그믐), is the evening before Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year. This evening marks the culmination of the old year and the anticipation of the new according to the traditional lunisolar calendar. It is fundamentally a time for family, reflection, and meticulous preparation for one of Korea’s most significant annual celebrations.

The observance is deeply ingrained in Korean cultural practices, emphasising familial bonds and reverence for ancestors. While not a public holiday itself, its importance is recognised through the preceding activities and the subsequent public holiday period of Seollal. Activities on this evening typically involve travel, cleaning, cooking, and spending time with close family members.

History and Origins of Korean New Year’s Eve

The traditions surrounding Korean New Year’s Eve are historically linked to the broader observance of Seollal, which has roots dating back to ancient agricultural societies in Korea. The practice of marking the transition from the old to the new lunar year is part of a long-standing East Asian cultural framework. Early records suggest that Seollal celebrations, and by extension the preparations leading up to them, were significant even during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE – 668 CE).

The lunisolar calendar, which dictates the date of Seollal, was historically crucial for agricultural planning. The end of the 12th lunar month, and the eve of the new year, would have been a natural point for communities to conclude the year’s work, settle affairs, and prepare for renewal. This period evolved into a time for familial unity and honouring ancestral spirits, a cornerstone of Confucian values that shaped Korean society. The specific customs associated with Seollal-eop developed over centuries as part of this larger cultural and seasonal transition.

How Korean New Year’s Eve Is Celebrated

The celebration of Korean New Year’s Eve is characterised by a strong focus on family and preparation. Many Koreans travel from urban centres back to their hometowns to be with their extended families, often leading to significant traffic congestion on major roadways. This annual mass migration, known as Gwi-seong-gil, underscores the importance of family reunions for the holiday.

Upon arrival, families typically engage in a collective effort of cleaning their homes, a practice known as daechungso (대청소), symbolising the sweeping away of bad luck from the past year. Extensive cooking preparations for the Seollal feast also begin on New Year’s Eve. Key dishes include tteokguk (a rice cake soup that represents starting the new year with a clean slate and gaining a year in age) and various jeon (savoury pancakes). Families also prepare ingredients for ancestral rites (charye) and bowing ceremonies (sebae). The evening is often spent sharing meals, conversing, and making final arrangements for the next day’s ceremonies and festivities.

When Is Korean New Year’s Eve?

Korean New Year’s Eve is a variable date holiday, as it is determined by the lunisolar calendar. It falls on the last day of the 12th lunar month. This means its corresponding date on the Gregorian calendar shifts each year, typically occurring in late January or early February. For instance, if Seollal (the first day of the first lunar month) falls on 10 February, then Korean New Year’s Eve would be 9 February.

Unlike Seollal itself, which is a public holiday in South Korea, Korean New Year’s Eve is not officially designated as such. However, because it directly precedes the multi-day Seollal public holiday period, many people take leave or adjust their work schedules to facilitate travel and preparations. The entire period surrounding Seollal, including the eve, is often treated as an informal holiday period for families.

Korean New Year’s Eve Key Facts