The New Year is a traditional and symbolic time of the year, as it marks the end of the past year and the start of another, bringing and symbolizing new adventures, or new experiences such as the mysteries that we will experience throughout the world. In Korea, before the new year begins, people would stay up late, watching the countdown to the new year on television and experiencing the exact moment it becomes the new year. However another particular and uncommon way Korean families celebrate the new year is experiencing the first sunrise of the new year.
Some might ask, why would people want to see the first sunrise of the New Year, as it doesn’t really seem to be beneficial to wake up early at midnight, and this seems to be pretty uncommon among other countries. However there are many reasons why people do this.
The reason why Korean people watch the sunrise contains a very spiritual reason. The reason is that watching the first ever sunrise of the new year can bring you spiritual effects and you’re repelling all of the negative spirits in your body and starting your year fresh and new. People also believe that watching the sunrise of the new year could give you positive spirits inside your body and you will have a great year with prosperity.
Another reason why Korean people watch sunrise early in the morning is due to it being a very romantic place, and a very romantic spot in which couples can make memories and cherish. Since it’s the first sunrise of the new year, couples would stay up all night and wait for the sunrise of the new year to happen, signifying a happy new year together with each other and watching the beautiful sunrise. Watching the sunrise has also been featured in some K-dramas, and is a popular couple spot.
The most obvious reason families watch the new year sun is because of the beauty of the new year sun, and families want to create beautiful and happy memories to start the new year. In Korea, some believe that if you start the year happy, then through the year it’ll be a good and happy year. Another reason that is connected to families celebrating the new year and watching the new year sunrise is to pray ahead of the year. Some families pray for their kids to get good grades in tests like Sunung(수능) in which is also called the Korean SAT, and also ask for good health and protection.
The New Year sunrise is both beautiful and watching the sunrise could be a good way to celebrate the new year. Happy new year!
Work Cited
“[PHOTOS] Celebrating New Year in Korea.” The Korea Times, The koreatimes Times, 31 Dec. 2022, www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/113_342723.html. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
admin. “New Year’s in Korea – How We Welcomed 2020 - Carina Johansson.” Carina Johansson - in Korea & Sweden, 16 Jan. 2020, cjmedia.me/live-in-korea/fun-in-korea/new-years-in-korea-how-we-welcomed-2020-vlog/. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
and, Culture. “First Sunrise of 2024 : Korea.net : The Official Website of the Republic of Korea.” Korea.net, 2024, www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Korea_in_photos/view?articleId=244674. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. “Korea JoongAng Daily.” Joins.com, 18 Dec. 2015, koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2015/12/18/etc/Celebrate-as-the-sun-rises-on-a-new-year/3012957.html. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.