Welcome to South Korea South Korea has a history that goes back over 4,000 years It shares a peninsula near China with North Korea Some of South Korea’s traditions come from its long relationship with China Life in South Korea is influenced by the teachings of Confucius an ancient Chinese thinker South Korea is a thriving modern country Today most people live in cities 4 The Pacific Ocean surrounds three sides of South Korea
People in South Korea have great respect for the spirits of their ancestors They ask them to help guide life today South Korea’s most important holidays began as rural festivals At festival time people return to their birthplace in the country to visit their parents and grandparents Did You Know After World War II the country of Korea was divided into North Korea and South Korea Nobody is allowed to enter or leave North Korea Some Koreans have not seen their relatives for over 60 years The Bridge of Freedom connects North and South Korea At the border South Koreans have hung colored ribbons with messages to show their love for their North Korean ancestors both living and dead 5
Happy New Year South Korea follows the solar calendar which runs from January to December as well as the lunar calendar The lunar calendar is based on the 12 cycles of the Moon The New Year’s Day holiday in South Korea is on January 1 just like in North America However celebrations for the Korean New Year don’t take place until the first day of the first lunar month which falls in either January or February Fireworks for Korean New Year explode over the Seoul Tower in Seoul South Korea’s capital city 6
During Korean New Year people have three days off Workers in the city often travel back to their family homes to celebrate On New Year’s Day children show respect to their parents and grandparents by bowing to them In return the elders give them money in silk pouches Later in the day people celebrate with parties or by playing traditional board games and flying kites Everyone wears new clothes for a fresh year Some people wear traditional Korean clothes called hanbok Did You Know In South Korea it is believed that people turn one year older on New Year’s when they eat the traditional Tteokguk soup 7
