Sooo, you’re spending Christmas in Korea, and naturally, you’ve got questions. Do Koreans celebrate Christmas? Are there any Korean Christmas traditions to follow? Where the heck can I get my Santa on!?
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- do Koreans celebrate Christmas?
- how Christmas in Korea is the same as in the west
- 5 unexpected and 3 expected Korean Christmas traditions
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Do Koreans Celebrate Christmas?
During Christmas in Korea, the country positively sparkles with holiday cheer. Huge light displays decorate malls and streets, over-the-top Christmas trees can be seen pretty much every which way you look, and shops are full of holiday wares.
If you wander the streets of Seoul or Busan, during the festive season, it sure looks like Christmas in Korea is a big deal. But is everything as it seems?
In short, Korean DO celebrate Christmas. Annnnnd they don’t. Here’s why.
Korean Christmas Traditions You’d Expect
There are a few things about Christmas in Korea that would make you feel like Koreans DO celebrate the holiday just like in the Western world.
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Christmas Day is a National Holiday
In Korea, Christmas Day is a national holiday, just like in Canada or the United States. I bet you’d be surprised to learn that Korea is the ONLY East Asian country where this is the case.
This is mostly because there are more Christians in Korea, than in most East Asian countries. Around 30% of the people in Korea identify as Christian. Christmas in Korea (성탄절 | Sung Tan Jul) is celebrated religiously as Christ’s birthday, much more than the commercial aspects of Christmas that we’re used to in the West.
DISCOUNTED LOTTE WORLD PASSES | Foreign passport holders can get Lotte World passes at a discounted price in advance. Book a combo ticket with the Lotte World Aquarium, or a Magic Pass to skip long lines at the rides of your choice. Check full details here.
Church Services
That makes it easy to find special church services that celebrate the religious aspect of this holiday, if that’s what you’re after. There are special services to be found all over Korea during Christmas, but the Midnight Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral is one of the most attended.
Christmas Commercialism
One thing you can’t seem to escape whether a country celebrates Christmas or not – is the rampant commercialization of the holiday.
Even though exchanging gifts is not a common Korean Christmas tradition, you’d never know it from the amount of Christmas displays, festivals, markets, and shopping opportunities available during Christmas in Korea.
Unusual Korean Christmas Traditions
Here are 5 kinda weird (at least to westerners) Korean Christmas traditions to know about.
Valentine’s Day + Santa
Christmas in Korea is a romantically geared holiday. That means that Korean Christmas traditions revolve around activities couples can do together, rather than family activities. It’s so much a “couple holiday,” that you wouldn’t be wrong to call it Valentine’s Day + Santa.
It’s common for couples to plan and reserve a special Christmas dinner or buffet, have a Christmas staycation, or go ice skating. The ice rink at the Grand Hyatt in Seoul is a real favourite because of its ultra romantic vibe.
WINTER STAYCATIONS AT LUXURY HOTELS | A staycation in a luxury hotel is a popular Christmas activity for couples, and families alike. Here are a few of the most popular luxury hotels in Seoul to check for availability, but if this is something you want to do, I’d book it soon. Hotels are already 80% booked out until the end of the year.
Cash Money
You won’t usually find a Christmas tree with a stack of brightly wrapped presents inside Korean homes. Most homes don’t have a tree at all, and it’s definitely not among Korean Christmas traditions to exchange piles of gifts.
Couples may give each other sentimental presents for Christmas, but an envelope of cash is much more likely to exchange hands between family members.
Children might be the one exception these days – as they seem to get more and more presents for Christmas with each passing year. (Bring on the money is what I say!)
Wonderful Winter Tours in Korea
Sure, winter in Korea might feel downright frosty, but there’s still plenty of fun things to do to help you forget the cold. Some winter tours can be difficult to get to using public transit, so definitely compare prices and value, if there’s a snowy place you really want to visit.
These are the current dates for the 2025 / 26 winter season, but keep in mind that everything is weather-dependent. Your tour operator will keep you appraised of any changes!
- Skiing, Snowboarding, and Sledding Tours across Korea | December – March
- 3 Romantic Winter Festivals in a Day | December 1st – February 1st
- Yongpyong Resort Balwangsan Cable Car + Samyang Ranch | December 3rd – February 27th
- Elysian Ski / Snowboarding / Sledding One Day Tour | December 5th – March 5th
- Vivaldi Park Snowy Land Sledding Tour | December 6th – February 28th
- Snowy Land + Alpaca World or Nami Island | December 8th – March 6th
- Daedunsan and Jeonju Hanok Village Day Tour from Seoul | December 15th – February 28th
- Wondae-ri Birch Forest + Maebawi Icewall Day Tour | December 15th – February 28th
- Eobi Ice Valley, Nami Island, Alpaca World + Garden of Morning Calm | December 16th – March 13th
- Cheongsong Ice Valley + Pohang Space Walk Tour + Gyeongju Woljeong Bridge | December 23rd – February 12th
- Gugok Ice Valley + Strawberry Picking + Snow Sledding | December 25th – February 28th
- Cheongyang Alps Village Ice Fountain Festival + Strawberry Picking | December 29th – February 23rd
- Sanjeong Lake Sledding Festival, Herb Island, Strawberry Picking + Icewall Cafe | December 26th – February 27th
- Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival Tour from Seoul | January 10th – February 1st
Cake, Not Candy Canes
While a brightly lit Christmas tree in individual homes is unlikely, it’s totally a Korean Christmas tradition for friends or families to share a Christmas themed cake. And I’m not talking about fruit cake. A Korean Christmas cake is more likely to be super light, with cream filling.
Christmas cakes can be picked up all over the country. For better value, visit one of the bakery chains, like Paris Baguette or Tous Les Jours. If you want something really special, check out the food emporiums at Lotte, Hyundai or Shinsegae Department stores.
READ NEXT: 33 Incredible Places to Go during Winter in Korea
Public, not Private
I gotta say that lighting festivals, holiday decor, and Christmas events in Korea are pretty spectacular. Public places like department stores and malls pretty much become Christmas-themed spectacles every December in Korea. But that’s about as far it goes.
Most Koreans live in apartments, so it’s not a tradition during Christmas to decorate their home. You won’t even find a Christmas wreath hanging on a door. Every year, it seems like a few more people get a Christmas tree and hang up stockings, but I’d say these families are still few and far between in Korea.
ALPACA WORLD + THE GARDEN OF MORNING CALM LIGHTING FESTIVAL | Pet fluffy alpacas and see the Garden of Morning Calm’s stunning Starlight Festival on this day tour designed with plenty of time to explore. Check full details and availability here.
Santa is Blue!?
When I first moved to Korea, it was virtually impossible to find Santa Claus in a mall. But as the years go by, and the holiday becomes more commercialized, more and more Santas are appearing around Seoul.
In Korea, Santa is called 산타 할아버지 (Santa haroboji) or 산타 클로스 (basically Santa Claus with Koreanized phonics). He’s usually depicted wearing the usual red and white like in the West, but it’s also a Korean Christmas tradition to see him dressed in blue or green and wearing a gat (Korean traditional hat worn by men).
Christmas in Korea: FAQs
1. Do Koreans celebrate Christmas?
In short, yes.
2. Is Christmas in Korea a national holiday?
December 25th is a national holiday. However in 2021, it was announced that Christmas would be excluded from the list of alternative holidays.
3. Where can I see the best Christmas lights?
Check major department stores like Lotte, Hyundai and Shinsegae, public areas like Seoul Plaza and the Cheonggyecheon, or visit a lighting festival.
4. How do I say Merry Christmas in Korean?
There are about 10 different ways to say Merry Christmas in Korean, but the safest, easiest way that won’t offend anyone is: 크리스마스 잘 보내세요 | Keu-ris-eu-ma-seu Jal Bon-ae-se-yo.
Which of these Korean Christmas traditions can you get behind? Share and comment if you liked this post!
What an interesting and enjoyable article. We went to Korea last May and enjoyed it so much we are returning next May.
We would love to go in Winter but I think it might be too cold!
May is one of my favourite months in Korea, but October / November is my absolute favourite. Autumn foliage is so stunning! This winter is crazy cold. Colder than I can ever remember it being, so wise choice I think. 😉
What an interesting and enjoyable article. We went to Korea last May and enjoyed it so much we are returning next May.
We would love to go in Winter but I think it might be too cold!
May is one of my favourite months in Korea, but October / November is my absolute favourite. Autumn foliage is so stunning! This winter is crazy cold. Colder than I can ever remember it being, so wise choice I think. 😉
Great article Shelley! I loved reading about the Christmas traditions in Korea.
Hey Stef!! Hopefully one day soon, I’ll be able to introduce you to a whole bunch more crazy Korean traditions. 😉
Great article Shelley! I loved reading about the Christmas traditions in Korea.
Hey Stef!! Hopefully one day soon, I’ll be able to introduce you to a whole bunch more crazy Korean traditions. 😉
That was a fun read, Shelley! It makes sense to me that Korea embraces all the lights and festivity, but it was enlightening to see how they view our western rituals. I was actually surprised that 30% of the population is Christian! Have a great holiday season and happy new year!
Christmas seems to be getting more and more westernized every year here… like it’s much easier to find a roast turkey than it used to be. But overall, I’d still say it’s a couple holiday, and most Koreans are just happy to have an extra day off! Happy holidays and let’s hope 2022 is better than 2021! 😉
That was a fun read, Shelley! It makes sense to me that Korea embraces all the lights and festivity, but it was enlightening to see how they view our western rituals. I was actually surprised that 30% of the population is Christian! Have a great holiday season and happy new year!
Christmas seems to be getting more and more westernized every year here… like it’s much easier to find a roast turkey than it used to be. But overall, I’d still say it’s a couple holiday, and most Koreans are just happy to have an extra day off! Happy holidays and let’s hope 2022 is better than 2021! 😉
interesting. it was quieter in Japan when I lived there. The one thing that the surprised me in Japan was everyone going to KFC!
Hahaha KFC?! Maybe the closest they could get to a roast turkey? When did you live in Japan? When I first moved to Korea, Christmas was much smaller than it is now…
interesting. it was quieter in Japan when I lived there. The one thing that the surprised me in Japan was everyone going to KFC!
Hahaha KFC?! Maybe the closest they could get to a roast turkey? When did you live in Japan? When I first moved to Korea, Christmas was much smaller than it is now…