Seollal — the Korean Lunar New Year — is one of the most significant holidays on the peninsula, typically falling between late January and mid-February. For travellers, it offers a rare window into authentic Korean family culture. But it also brings the country to a near standstill for three days, with transportation networks strained to their limits and most shops shuttered. With the right preparation, it is one of the most rewarding times to visit. With the wrong preparation, it can be a frustrating blur of closed doors and standing-room-only train cars. The logistics echo Korea’s other major lunar holiday — see our Chuseok travel tips guide if you are comparing the two seasons.
Book Transport at Least Six Weeks Out
KTX tickets for the Seollal period go on sale exactly one month before the holiday, and they sell out within hours — sometimes minutes — of opening. The KORAIL website and app (korail.com) experience enormous traffic, so have your account set up, payment details saved, and a browser tab ready the moment booking opens. If you miss KTX, consider the intercity bus terminal (gosok bus) as a fallback, but expect similar competition for seats on routes to Busan, Gyeongju, Jeonju, and Gangneung.
Train fares during Seollal are no different from normal — a KTX from Seoul to Busan costs around ₩59,800 one-way in standard class (fares are current as of 2026 and can change, so verify before you book). What changes is availability, not pricing. If you are flexible on destination, travelling against the main flow (Seoul-bound on the days everyone leaves the capital, or outbound on the return rush) frees up tickets dramatically.
- KTX Seoul → Busan: ₩59,800 standard / ₩83,700 first class
- Intercity bus Seoul → Gyeongju: ₩25,000–₩28,000
- Book via KORAIL app or Talk Talk (1544-7788) — both require a Korean phone number or foreigner registration for payment
- If you lack a Korean number, use the AREX or Klook advance booking services that accommodate foreign cards
Know What Opens and What Closes
The general rule is: anything family-owned closes, anything corporate stays open. Large department stores (Lotte, Shinsegae, Hyundai) typically close on the first day of Seollal itself but run special sales the days before and after. Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) remain open 24 hours throughout. Tourist-facing attractions such as Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan, and Namsangol Hanok Village actually host free cultural programmes — traditional games, folk performances, and hanbok rentals — making these ideal spots to visit during the holiday itself.
Local restaurants are the biggest casualty. In residential neighbourhoods, expect 60–80% of independent eateries to be closed for at least two of the three days. Hotel restaurants and food courts inside malls are safer bets. In Itaewon (Seoul) and Haeundae (Busan), the tourist-facing restaurant scene stays active. Stock up on snacks and instant noodles from a convenience store as insurance for the first morning.
- Open: convenience stores, hotel restaurants, major mall food courts, duty-free shops
- Open with special programmes: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Namsangol Hanok Village, Hahoe Folk Village, Andong
- Usually closed: local restaurants, small markets, hair salons, pharmacies in residential areas
- Check kakaomap.com or Naver Map the day before — businesses update their Seollal hours directly
Experience the Holiday, Not Just the Crowds
Seollal morning is quiet in a way that almost nowhere in urban Korea ever is. Locals visit ancestral graves or stay home for the charye memorial rite. If you are in Seoul, the Han River parks are unusually empty and beautiful in the winter light. In Busan, Haeundae Beach sees a fraction of its usual crowd. This is the best morning to photograph cityscapes or simply walk without the usual pedestrian traffic.
Many cultural venues offer free entry on Seollal day itself. In 2025, all four main palaces in Seoul — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, and Gyeonghuigung — waived admission for the holiday. Visitors wearing hanbok receive free entry on most regular days anyway, and Seollal is a particularly festive occasion to rent one. Hanbok rental near Gyeongbokgung runs ₩15,000–₩25,000 for two to four hours depending on the style. Namsangol Hanok Village (free entry year-round) hosts folk games including yutnori board game, neolttwigi seesaw jumping, and jegi kick — all open to visitors to try.
If you are travelling as a couple or solo and feel awkward about barging into a cultural site without context, the Korea Tourism Organization runs free English-language guided tours of major palaces during Seollal. Check their site (visitkorea.or.kr) two weeks before the holiday for the schedule, as slots fill quickly. If the winter chill has you craving the slopes afterward, Seollal timing lines up well with the country’s ski season for visitors.
Budget and Practical Logistics on the Ground
ATMs work normally throughout Seollal. Banks close but convenience store ATMs (Global ATM stickers indicate foreign card acceptance) process withdrawals around the clock. Kakao Pay and Naver Pay continue to function for any vendor that accepts them, which increasingly includes street food stalls and traditional markets.
Accommodation prices spike significantly in the two weeks surrounding Seollal, especially guesthouses and boutique hanok stays. A hanok guesthouse in Bukchon that normally runs ₩80,000–₩120,000 per night may climb to ₩150,000–₩200,000 (rates as of 2026; check current pricing before booking). Book at least eight weeks ahead if you want the atmospheric options. Budget stays in Hongdae or near university areas fluctuate less, as the student-heavy clientele mostly returns home for the holiday, freeing up rooms. Since Seollal falls in the depths of winter, pack accordingly — our Korea packing list by season covers what to bring for the cold snap.
Taxis are plentiful in central Seoul and Busan during Seollal — many drivers who would otherwise be with family instead work the holiday for the premium fares. Kakao T app hails remain reliable. In smaller cities, supply drops sharply; arrange your taxi from the bus terminal to your guesthouse in advance or walk if the distance is reasonable.
- Carry ₩50,000–₩100,000 in cash as a buffer for any vendors not on card
- Subway lines in Seoul and Busan run extended hours on Seollal day — check SMRT/Busan Metro announcements
- Seollal food gifts (rice cakes, fruit boxes, spam gift sets) appear in supermarkets weeks ahead — good, affordable souvenirs
- Jeongwol Daeboreum (the first full moon after Seollal, about 15 days later) triggers another round of folk events in rural areas — worth extending for if your schedule allows