New Year's Day in 🇰🇷 South Korea

While Korean culture traditionally centres its New Year's celebrations on Seollal (Lunar New Year), the Gregorian New Year on January 1st (Sinjeong) is also a public holiday. Many Koreans celebrate with midnight countdowns at Bosingak Pavilion in central Seoul, where a large bell is struck 33 times in a ceremony broadcast nationally.

Watching the first sunrise of the year (haemaji) is a beloved Korean tradition. Popular sunrise-viewing spots include Jeongdongjin on the east coast (famous for its train station near the sea), Seongsan Ilchulbong on Jeju Island, and Ganjeolgot Cape, the easternmost point of the Korean mainland. Trains and buses run special sunrise services.

January 1st is typically a quieter day than Seollal, which involves elaborate ancestral rites and multi-day family gatherings. However, many Koreans still enjoy a family meal and make personal goals (like losing weight or learning English, perennial favourites). Department stores launch New Year's sales, and ski resorts in Gangwon Province fill with holidaymakers.

Korean media plays an outsized role, with entertainment companies releasing special New Year's variety shows and K-pop countdown concerts. These events attract millions of viewers both domestically and among the global Korean Wave audience.

The first day of the Gregorian calendar year, celebrated worldwide with fireworks, parties, and resolutions marking fresh beginnings on January 1.