Korea Seollal (Lunar New Year) 2027: What to Expect, What's Open & How to Plan
Seollal (설날) is Korea's biggest family holiday — the Lunar New Year. In 2027, it falls on Tuesday, February 16, with a three-day public holiday from February 15–17. Like Chuseok, the entire country shuts down as 50 million Koreans travel home for family gatherings, ancestor rites, and traditional food. And like Chuseok, it can be an incredible time to visit — or a frustrating one — depending on how you plan.
Book Your Seollal Trip
February in Korea = winter deals + cultural immersion:
2027 Seollal Dates
| Date | Day | What |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 15 (Mon) | Seollal Eve | Public holiday. Mass exodus from cities. |
| Feb 16 (Tue) | Seollal Day | Main holiday. Ancestor rites (charye), family meals. Quietest day. |
| Feb 17 (Wed) | Day after Seollal | Public holiday. Families return to cities. |
Key insight: Koreans leave cities Feb 14–15 and return Feb 17–18. Seoul is empty and peaceful on Feb 15–16 — perfect for tourists who plan ahead.
What Is Seollal?
Seollal is the Korean Lunar New Year — the most important family gathering of the year. Koreans:
- Perform charye (차례) — elaborate ancestor memorial ceremony with food offerings
- Eat tteokguk (떡국) — rice cake soup. Eating it means you've aged one year.
- Sebae (세배) — younger family members bow to elders and receive cash gifts (sebaetdon)
- Play yutnori (윷놀이) — traditional board game played during family gatherings
- Wear hanbok — traditional clothing, especially for the charye ceremony
What's Open & What's Closed
Almost identical to Chuseok:
CLOSED
- Banks, government offices
- Most small restaurants and family-run shops
- Traditional markets (Namdaemun, Gwangjang — limited hours if any)
- Some museums
OPEN
- Royal palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, etc. Open and often FREE
- Tourist attractions — N Seoul Tower, Lotte World, Everland
- Department stores — Lotte, Shinsegae, Hyundai (reduced hours)
- Convenience stores — 24/7
- Chain restaurants — Korean chains stay open
- Hotels and accommodation
- Subway and buses — holiday schedule (reduced frequency)
Why Seollal Is Great for Tourists
- Empty Seoul. Half the city's population goes home. Famous spots are uncrowded.
- Free palace entry. All Seoul palaces offer free admission during Seollal.
- Cultural programs. Palaces run special Seollal events — traditional games, yutnori, sebae experience, folk performances.
- Korean Folk Village (Yongin) runs its biggest cultural program of the year.
- Winter prices. February is still low season — hotels are cheap.
Best Things to Do During Seollal
1. Palaces — Free Entry + Cultural Programs
Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, and other palaces offer free admission and run Seollal programs: traditional games, folk performances, and sebae experiences where you can learn the traditional New Year bow.
2. Korean Folk Village
The biggest Seollal cultural event. Traditional performances (tightrope walking, farmer's music), yutnori tournaments, folk games, and traditional food. Worth the 1-hour trip from Seoul.
3. Wear Hanbok
Seollal is the most natural time to wear hanbok. Rent one near Gyeongbokgung — you'll see Koreans in traditional dress too. Free palace entry when wearing hanbok (any time of year).
4. Ski Trip
February is peak ski season. Combine Seollal cultural experiences in Seoul with a day or overnight ski trip.
Seollal Foods to Try
| Food | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Tteokguk (떡국) | Rice cake soup — THE Seollal dish. Clear beef broth with sliced rice cakes, egg, seaweed. | Korean restaurants (those that stay open), hotel restaurants |
| Jeon (전) | Savoury pancakes — every Korean family makes stacks of these for Seollal | Open restaurants, department store food halls |
| Mandu (만두) | Korean dumplings — steamed or fried, often stuffed with kimchi and pork | Everywhere — convenience stores have decent ones |
| Galbi-jjim (갈비찜) | Braised beef short ribs — festive dish | Korean BBQ restaurants |
| Yakgwa (약과) | Honey cookies — traditional Korean sweets experiencing a trendy revival | Bakeries, traditional tea houses |
Transport Warnings
Same as Chuseok: Do NOT travel between cities Feb 14–15 (exodus) or Feb 17–18 (return). Highways gridlock, KTX trains sell out a month ahead. Stay in one city during the holiday.
- Seoul subway runs fine on a holiday schedule
- KTX trains sell out for Seollal dates — book the moment tickets open (1 month ahead)
- Domestic flights (Seoul–Jeju) sell out weeks ahead
Where to Stay
Hotels in Seoul are easy to book during Seollal — Koreans go to their hometowns, not hotels. Prices may be lower than usual.
- Jongno / Insadong — walk to palaces running Seollal programs
- Myeongdong — department stores and chains stay open
- Hongdae — more places stay open over holidays, budget-friendly
Book Seollal Hotels
Practical Tips
- Stock up on food the day before. Many restaurants close Feb 15–17. Buy snacks and meals from convenience stores or department store food halls on Feb 14.
- Hotel restaurants are reliable. They stay open when everything else closes.
- It's still winter. February in Seoul: -4 to 3°C. See our Winter Guide for packing.
- Enjoy the quiet. Empty Seoul during Seollal is a photographer's dream.
FAQ
What's the difference between Seollal and Chuseok?
Same concept — family gathering, ancestor rites, traditional food. Seollal is in late January/February (Lunar New Year), Chuseok is in September/October (harvest). Both have 3-day public holidays. Seollal has tteokguk; Chuseok has songpyeon.
Should I avoid Korea during Seollal?
No — if you stay in one city, it's wonderful. Empty streets, free palaces, cultural programs, cheap hotels. Just don't travel between cities during the holiday.
Is the Zodiac animal thing important?
2027 is the Year of the Goat/Sheep (미/양). You'll see goat-themed decorations everywhere. Koreans calculate their zodiac year like the Chinese zodiac — it's a fun conversation starter.
Plan Your Seollal Korea Trip
February = winter deals + cultural immersion. Book now:
Last updated: March 2026. Seollal 2027 dates are confirmed (based on lunar calendar). Substitute holiday arrangements will be announced by the Korean government closer to the date.
