Korea is one of the most Christian nations in Asia. So, naturally, you would assume that Christmas is a major holiday in South Korea. But, have you ever wondered what the holiday season looks like in Korea? Is it a national holiday or a regional holiday? Just how important is it? Read on to find out!
Do Koreans Celebrate Christmas?
Is Christmas a Public Holiday?
Christmas isnโt classified as a national holiday in South Korea in 2022. However, it was in the past. Now, it is classified as an alternative public holiday (๋์ฒด๊ณตํด์ผ). This means that when the holiday lands on a weekend, no days off are given to workers. As a result, it is officially recognized as a holiday in Korea, but it is not a major holiday.
How is Christmas Similar and Different from Other Countries?
Nevertheless, Christmas trees and lights can be seen all over Korea. This is the most significant similarity that Christmas in Korea has with most countries that celebrate it in the world.
However, different from other countries, most Koreans donโt celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. Instead, it is seen as a secular, mostly retail and event-oriented holiday. Additionally, most families do not gather for the holiday and few children celebrate Christmas morning with a visit from Santa. Instead, most people celebrate Christmas with a date or a friend gathering.
What is Christmas like at Church?
While most Koreans donโt associate Christmas with religion, churches still hold events for the holidays. As those in Korea definitely know, church activities in Korea are very developed. Christmas holiday is not an exception.
During this day there are special Christmas services in churches around the country for people that would like to celebrate the religious aspect of the holiday. They are very open to foreigners since most of the people from the West are Christian. South Korea has one of the largest Christian populations in Asia, with 27.6% identifying as either Catholic or Protestant as of 2015, perhaps explaining these surface-level holiday similarities.
Christmas Food in Korea
If you are from the West, you may be a bit disappointed with Korean Christmas food, or lack thereof. Traditional Christmas food (turkey, stuffing, eggnog, etc.), is not usually found in Korea. If you want those foods, you can try your best to cook them at home however, finding the ingredients wonโt be easy.
If you are looking for a turkey, one of the only places you can find one is Costco. But, it will cost you a pretty penny, especially since you will also need to pay a membership fee to get in. If you canโt cook and you are craving such foods, your best bet is to find a bar/restaurant (usually in Itaewon) with a special Christmas lunch. You will probably need to reserve a spot at least a few weeks in advance.
Although Korea doesnโt have the same Christmas foods as other countries, it does have its special delicacies and foods that most Koreans celebrating Christmas truly enjoy. These include Korean BBQ, Jjolmyeon (์ซ๋ฉด), and other delicious winter foods. During Christmas, itโs not uncommon for couples to end their meals with a beautifully decorated Christmas cake.
Things to do in Korea During Christmas
There are a lot of activities for friends and lovers in Korea during the holiday season. In fact, this holiday is even considered a matchmaking day since couples can enjoy various activities to tighten their relationship.
Below are the activities that you should try this holiday season:
- Ice Skating and Sledding: There are dozens of outdoor ice skating rinks around at this time of year. Keep in mind they will no doubt be swamped with people, so make sure you book in advance. Several resorts are close enough to Seoul for people to go there for a day trip. Many resorts also have ski runs that are open during the night.
- Amusement Parks: Lotteworld amusement park, with its special themed events, is one such place. Myeongdong is also very busy as it is seen as a place to have a date on Christmas Eve or during the Day. As this is a โWesternโ holiday, many of the more international parts of Seoul, such as Itaewon, are also especially busy at Christmas.
- Club/bars: During these days, there are a lot of events and free drinks for people. This guarantees a fun time to enjoy with friends.
- Christmas Shopping: Christmas is a heavily commercialized holiday, and there are plenty of sales and themed advertisements at this time of the year.
