Winter is not only the start of the New Year for us, but it is also the Korean Lunar New Year, which is on January 25. This Korean festival is called Seollal here in Korea, and the holiday is similar to the Chinese New Year. Many shops have already started to fill up with holliday gifts and foods. Many people return home to their families for the new year's weekend, and I've heard the city will be much emptier and quieter for a few days while people travel to family elsewhere to celebrate. Many cultural and historical sites will have traditional games, crafts and performances to celebrate the start of the new year. Many Koreans dress in traditional clothes called hanbok for festivals and celebrations like this.
