Culture Track · Holidays & Customs

Korea's Holidays & Seasonal Customs

From Seollal to Dongji — ten seasonal customs that follow the lunar calendar, six everyday traditions such as kimjang, ondol, and hanbok, how Koreans eat and drink today, from chimaek to somaek, and Korean etiquette, from receiving a glass with both hands to waiting for the eldest to lift their spoon — four strands, in one page.

🎎 The Seasonal Year

Ten holidays arranged by lunar date — each card's exam point links onward to the cross-era themes unit (Unit 7).

🏮 Everyday Traditions & Rites of Passage

Beyond the seasonal holidays, six living traditions that have sustained Korean life — some inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

🍻 Eat & Drink Like a Local

Beyond the traditions — how Koreans eat and drink today, from chimaek by the Hangang to the somaek rituals of a team dinner. For the table manners that go with them, see the etiquette section below.

🙇 Korean Etiquette — Do's & Don'ts

Old Chinese texts are said to have called Korea "the courteous country of the East" (dongbang yeui jiguk). From receiving a glass with both hands to waiting for the eldest to lift their spoon, that courtesy is alive in everyday life — here it is as practical do's and don'ts for visitors.