In Korea, Christmas is primarily a religious holiday and less an excuse for shopping and sales prices. Families may attend mass or a church service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day (or both), and caroling parties are popular for young Christians on Christmas Eve.
There are more Christians in South Korea (the Republic of Korea) than in many other Asian countries such as China and Japan, so Christmas is celebrated more widely. … Unlike Japan, Christmas is an official public holiday in South Korea – so people have the day off work and school!
Sung Tan Jul
South Korea is the only East Asian nation to recognise Christmas (Sung Tan Jul) as a national holiday. Unlike Seollal or Chuseok, Christmas is not a big traditional holiday, so most Koreans don’t travel back to their hometown to celebrate.
Most Koreans will not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday and instead treat it as a day to celebrate with family or friends. However, it is not seen as an important enough traditional holiday for people to travel to their hometowns.
Santa Grandfather
Santa Claus can also be seen around Korea but he might be wearing red or blue! He’s also known as 산타 클로스 (santa kullosu) or 산타 할아버지 (Santa Grandfather). A popular Christmas food is a Christmas Cake, but it’s often a sponge cake covered in cream brought from a local bakery!
Christmas Dinner
The holiday menu features foods like Bulgogi (barbecued beef), sweet potato noodles, and kimchi. Everyone brings their best dish. The family will finish the meal with a Christmas cake (often a steamed rice cake decorated with fruits) or a buffet of all the best Korean sweets the family has to offer.
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