The Seoul City Government is holding its annual Lunar New Year’s Day celebration on Jan. 28 with help from the Seoul Global Center.
The event, which is hosted by an English-speaking volunteer team, is exclusively for expatriates. It includes an opening performance and is followed by “saebae,” the traditional bow to greet the elders. Also a quiz will be held with questions about Korean culture.
After the formal aspect of the event, participants can choose among several games to be played and other activities which will be held at the same time. There will be games such as “jegichagi,” which involves using the feet to keep a small pouch from touching the ground, or “tuho,” in which participants throw arrows into a canister.
Another activity is the wearing of “hanbok,” the traditional Korean clothing.
At the end, the organization team will provide traditional dishes such as rice cake soup. The event started several years ago and attracts around 100-200 people every year.
Since Lunar New Year is one of the biggest family holidays in Korea, foreigners without social contacts could feel alone, said an official. The goal of the event is to enjoy Korean culture together and help foreign residents bond.
The event will take place from 2-4 p.m. on the eighth floor of the Seoul Global Center Building near Jonggak Station.
To participate, complete a registration form online and send it via email by Jan. 26.
For further information regarding the event or how to register, visit global.seoul.go.kr.
