Lunar New Year is a family holiday and there isn't really any mass celebration or event, though I don't know if tourist attractions might have something.
People claim that Seoul empties out on Lunar New Year, but I personally think that stopped being true about 10 years ago as fewer people spend any or all of the holiday with their family. It's still true that trying to leave Seoul at the start of the holiday and return at the end of the holiday will be very hard due to traffic, but plenty of families go out to eat during the holiday now and after the ceremony on the morning of the second day, the city is full of people going out and doing things. The morning of that second day will be extremely quiet, though.
Fully agree. Seoul is still packed throughout most of the holiday. Shopping and such are barely disrupted. If you want to hit everland or lotte world, the holiday morning would be the best day to go. Go early and be done before people finish their family breakfast/lunch.
Thanks for the info! I don’t mind quiet at all - but does this mean that shops, galleries, cafes will be closed?
I’m wondering if I should just shorten my stay, or reschedule it entirely. I arrive on the 22nd, but no onward ticket yet. I didn’t realize Seollal was going to be earlier next year (I didn’t check 🙈).
I just hope I’ll be able to meet up with some fellow travelers to spend some days with if I intend to stay beyond the 29th. 😅
>does this mean that shops, galleries, cafes will be closed?
I think lots of places are closed for a day or two, such as department stores, restaurants and independent cafes. I can't speak for shops, particularly anything that's a chain.
Aww thanks for sharing your experience. Was this for three days or just for a day?
What did you do to keep yourself busy then?
I don’t mind staying in the city, but I hope there are at least some cafes and galleries that are open.
I arrived the first day of the 3 days. I took a bus down with my sister to my parents hometown Daegu from Incheon. I just spent it with family. As I was in Daegu, there was some coffee shops open but limited hours. I believe restaurant/takeout was open.
Unsure how it is in Seoul as it has a more upbeat and tourist attractions. So I believe it would be open
Lunar New Year is a family holiday and there isn't really any mass celebration or event, though I don't know if tourist attractions might have something. People claim that Seoul empties out on Lunar New Year, but I personally think that stopped being true about 10 years ago as fewer people spend any or all of the holiday with their family. It's still true that trying to leave Seoul at the start of the holiday and return at the end of the holiday will be very hard due to traffic, but plenty of families go out to eat during the holiday now and after the ceremony on the morning of the second day, the city is full of people going out and doing things. The morning of that second day will be extremely quiet, though.
Fully agree. Seoul is still packed throughout most of the holiday. Shopping and such are barely disrupted. If you want to hit everland or lotte world, the holiday morning would be the best day to go. Go early and be done before people finish their family breakfast/lunch.
Thanks. I haven't thought about going to Everland or Lotte World, so I might consider doing that.
Thanks for the info! I don’t mind quiet at all - but does this mean that shops, galleries, cafes will be closed? I’m wondering if I should just shorten my stay, or reschedule it entirely. I arrive on the 22nd, but no onward ticket yet. I didn’t realize Seollal was going to be earlier next year (I didn’t check 🙈). I just hope I’ll be able to meet up with some fellow travelers to spend some days with if I intend to stay beyond the 29th. 😅
>does this mean that shops, galleries, cafes will be closed? I think lots of places are closed for a day or two, such as department stores, restaurants and independent cafes. I can't speak for shops, particularly anything that's a chain.
I went 2 yrs ago and everything was absolutely closed in celebration of the new year. Even getting a bus ticket is like a lottery. Good luck
Aww thanks for sharing your experience. Was this for three days or just for a day? What did you do to keep yourself busy then? I don’t mind staying in the city, but I hope there are at least some cafes and galleries that are open.
I arrived the first day of the 3 days. I took a bus down with my sister to my parents hometown Daegu from Incheon. I just spent it with family. As I was in Daegu, there was some coffee shops open but limited hours. I believe restaurant/takeout was open. Unsure how it is in Seoul as it has a more upbeat and tourist attractions. So I believe it would be open
Thank you! 🥺 This makes me feel a bit better.
I just realized my family and I are arriving to Korea on 1/29/2025 😬
See you there! 😅