South Korea Lunar New Year --The Year of the White Rat

South Korea (as well as China and Vietnam) celebrate two New Years'. One on Jan. 1 and the Lunar New Year celebration, which this year falls on Saturday, January 25.

For your Korean colleagues (living and working in Korea), you can wish them Happy Lunar New Year on Wednesday afternoon by phone, text, or email, which is Thursday AM in Korea and their last workday before the holiday. 

Koreans this year will have a 4-day weekend starting Friday K time.

For expatriate Koreans working outside Korea/ globally, you can wish them a Happy Lunar New Year on the day itself, Saturday, January 25, or at some time prior on Friday.
 
Here is the formal greeting.

Sae hae bok mani ba deu say yo

One more thing…
The year of the rat opens up a new 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac. As the first animal to finish the Great Race of the Chinese zodiac legend, the quick-witted rat represents new beginnings and versatility.

According to legend, a Great Race was organized by China’s Jade Emperor to determine the order for the annual calendrical signs. The competition saw the small but clever rat crossing a final river race obstacle by riding on the back of the ox. Then nearing the finish line, the resourceful rat jumping off to cross before the other animals. Thus, being name first among the animals of the 12 Chinese zodiacs.

In Korean folk tales, though the tiniest among the zodiac animals, rats are seen resourceful, nimble, diligent and productive—this translates into 2020 being seen as a year of wealth and abundance.

As always, I appreciate your comments and thoughts, as well as any inquiries to support you and teams by steering through Korea facing business issues with a proven strategy, work throughs, and solutions

Don