Christmas celebrations are different in every country, so how does South Korea celebrate the holiday? Whether you’re visiting over the Christmas period or you’re simply curious about how the holiday is celebrated in other parts of the world, we share everything you need to know.
Do Koreans Celebrate Christmas?
Koreans do celebrate Christmas, but it looks a lot different compared to other parts of the world. It’s also nowhere near as widely celebrated as other Korean holidays like Chuseok or Seollal.
And, while the festive season is a major celebration in most parts of the Western world and a time to come together with family, Christmas is seen as a couple’s holiday in South Korea, or a time to get together with friends.
What is Christmas Called in South Korea?
Christmas is most commonly referred to as 크리스마스 (keuriseumaseu), which is basically Christmas in the English language but using Korean characters and sounds. It can also be called 성탄절 (seongtanjeol), but this has more religious connotations.
Find out how to say “Merry Christmas” in Korean, plus other useful vocabulary here!
Is Christmas a public holiday in South Korea?
Yes, Christmas Day – December 25th for Koreans – is a national holiday. In fact, from 2023, it became a 대체공휴일 (daechegonghyuil), which translates to a “substitute holiday”. This means that if Christmas falls on the weekend, workers will now get a weekday off. For instance, if it falls on a Sunday, they will get the Monday off work instead.
Unlike other countries, however, Boxing Day is not a public holiday. Only Christmas Day itself is a holiday, and people go back to work the next day.
How do Koreans Celebrate Christmas?
Christmas in Korea is more similar to Valentine’s Day in the US. Couples get together and will often do activities together or go for a meal. Many will have dinner in an upscale restaurant to celebrate, so if you are planning on traveling to South Korea during this time make sure to book things early!
So what does a typical Christmas Day for a Korean couple look like? They might go out to see the Christmas decorations in one of the major department stores in Seoul, such as Lotte Department Store or Shinsegae, both of which put on great Christmas light shows complete with massive Christmas trees.
Some even opt to visit the Christmas market in Shinsegae, while others might celebrate by going to Lotte World Adventure, which tends to have lights, Christmas carols, parades, and other festivities during the holiday season. Couples will likely take plenty of photos to remember the day. A lot of places will have photo spots and couples will stop to take some pictures during their special day.
There’s also Myeongdong Cathedral, which many people visit over the Christmas period. Christians aren’t the only people who visit; many Koreans and tourists travel here during the Christmas period. The lights are particularly beautiful here, and there are wishing trees set up so you can write out your wish and attach it to the tree so it comes true. Myeongdong Cathedral also holds Mass on Christmas Day, and there are usually Christmas carol concerts held over the Christmas period, including on the day.
This is usually followed by dinner at a fancy restaurant. There aren’t any specific traditions with food; many will simply choose their favourite cuisine and pick a restaurant from there.
If you’re single, Koreans might spend the day with friends, family or by yourself. Many people will host a party or go out for a meal with loved ones.
Alternatively, people sometimes stay in on Christmas Day and simply enjoy the full day off with takeout from a local chicken restaurant or their favorite cuisine.
That is to say, everyone’s Christmas is unique to them since there aren’t any set traditions in Korea like you would find in Western countries.
Is Christmas a Big Deal for Children in South Korea?
Just like kids the world over, which child doesn’t love gifts, colorful lights and activities like sledding or ice skating?!
Although not all families in Korea celebrate Christmas, some do, especially if they have young children. It’s another chance to spoil the kids (even though they already have a dedicated Children’s Day!) and helps structure the bank holiday around fun festive activities. Santa Claus – known as 산타 할아버지 (santa halabeoji), which directly translates to “Santa Grandfather”, or 산타 클로스 (santa kullosu), i.e. Santa Claus – is well known in South Korea, and many hopeful children undoubtedly wake up far too early to see if he’s visited and left them any presents.
There’s even a “Santa post office” (산타 우체국; santa uchegook) in Seoul, where children can write a letter to him and will receive a reply back from him that year as long as they provide a return address.
Suffice to say that some children do celebrate Christmas in South Korea, but the day isn’t centred as much around family as it is around activities. Christmas dinner will look very different too! If you’re visiting the country with young children during the holidays, there should be plenty to do while you’re there.
What do Koreans Eat for Christmas?
As Christmas is treated like a day off, there aren’t any specific foods that Koreans will eat for Christmas dinner. Instead, they simply treat themselves to a meal that they enjoy. That could be anything depending on the person and who they’re dining with. Whilst some might choose Korean BBQ, others might opt for pizza or sashimi. It really depends!
One thing that is more common is that many Koreans will buy a Christmas cake. These don’t tend to come in the traditional fruit cake variety the USA and the UK serve on Christmas Day; instead, they’re usually sponge cakes and are available in a variety of flavors, from chocolate to pistachio cream cheese.
Most of the major department stores, bakeries and hotels in Korea will release a new range of Christmas cakes each year, and the competition to get one of the best is often fierce.
For instance, 성심당 (Sungshimdang), a popular bakery in South Korea, doesn’t allow customers to pre-purchase some of their Christmas cakes, so many queue up on Christmas Eve to get one before they sell out.
Elsewhere, most other businesses allow people to reserve cakes. Even major brands like Starbucks and Paris Baguette in Korea get in on the action and release their own Christmas cakes.
This is something that’s unique to Korea and other Asian countries, such as Japan – whilst Starbucks releases Christmas-themed desserts in the Western world, it’s pretty unheard of for them to bring out a line of cakes.
How Does South Korea Decorate for Christmas?
You’ll see plenty of Christmas decorations in Seoul; Christmas trees full of ornaments, tinsel, Christmas lights and more. Storefronts in department stores are also full of intricate displays and decorations.
If you’re wondering whether Koreans decorate their homes for Christmas, it really depends on the family or household. Whilst some pull out all the stops to decorate their home with a tree and Christmas decorations, others don’t decorate at all.
Do Koreans Exchange Christmas Gifts?
Christmas gift giving isn’t as prevalent in South Korea as in other parts of the world. Couples may buy each other gifts and friends might exchange gifts too (especially those in their 20s and 30s), but this isn’t prevalent; the day is mainly centered around a date meal and couple’s activities.
Families don’t generally exchange gifts like they do in the USA or other parts of the world, but they sometimes do if they have young children.
Korean Trend Tip
These talking trees were all the rage a couple of years ago in South Korea! Most of them could record your voice and play it back, allowing people to record messages to one another. Alternatively, the tree could play a Christmas tune, like Jingle Bell Rock. There were quite a few different varieties, with different songs included, but the toys’ wiggle-dance was key.
A trendy item in Korean is referred to as a 핫한 아이템 (hathan aitem; hot item), which is often shortened to 핫템 (hattem).
How About Korean Christmas Cards?
Christmas card giving isn’t common in South Korea either, although some younger generations might exchange Christmas cards with friends. Sending e-cards and Christmas-themed emojis via Kakaotalk or other messaging apps is slightly more common.
If you’re looking to buy Christmas cards in Korea, you’ll find plenty of choice for relatively little. Bookstores, stationary shops, gift shops, and department stores commonly sell them. If you’re in Seoul, it’s well worth visiting Kyobo Book Centre in Gangnam as there’s usually a range of Christmas cards and gifts on the underground level of the store. You can ship them back to friends and family in your home country too.
Are There Church Services on Christmas Day in Korea?
With around 31% of Koreans identifying as Christian, there’s no lack of church services on Christmas Day on the Korean Peninsula. You’ll find that most churches in South Korea will hold a service of worship or Mass. If you’re staying in South Korea and would like to attend Mass (known as 미사; misa in Korean), there are both English and Korean services throughout the day at some of the bigger churches, so even if you don’t speak much Korean, you should be able to find a church service near you. There is also Midnight Mass at some churches and cathedrals!
Even though Christians in the country might celebrate the holiday more than other Koreans, they generally celebrate with the church rather than with family. This differs distinctly from celebrating Christmas as a Christian in Western countries.
Are Shops Open on Christmas Day in South Korea?
Yes, you’ll find that almost all shops are open on Christmas Day. Many Koreans treat it as a normal day so it’s business as usual for most companies.
Korean Christmas Movies
Instead of venturing outside, you could sit back at your flat or Airbnb in South Korea and curl up with a Christmas movie. Besides the American classics like Home Alone (나 홀로 집에; na hollo jibe) and Love Actually (러브 액츄얼리; leobeu aekchyu-eolli), which are also popular in Korea, there are also a few Korean Christmas films that you might want to watch this year. Perhaps most popular is Christmas in August (8월의 크리스마스; parwolui keuriseumaseu), a classic romantic movie that will make you feel a lot of strong emotions!
Korean Christmas Songs
And if you’re looking to get in the Christmas spirit but you’re sick of The Pogues and Mariah Carey, you might want to try K-Pop Christmas songs for a change. There are plenty to choose from, including bops from TWICE, EXO and Red Velvet – here’s a playlist to get you started.
Traveling to South Korea During The Christmas Holidays?
Whilst Christmas in Korea might look a little different to how you would usually celebrate it in your home country, it’s well worth taking a trip to the country over the holiday season. You can experience the best of both worlds: all the shops are open, yet you can still enjoy the seasonal festivities that are unique to South Korea. Enjoy some ice skating or sledding, plus the Christmas festivals, markets and decorations that bring the country to life during this time. Who knows, you might even experience a white Christmas!