Korean Culture Alert: Lunar New Year 2012

By Don Southerton, BCW Editor
This year Korea will celebrate their annual Lunar New Year holiday on Sunday January 22,  Monday January 23, and Tuesday January 24.

Regarding the holiday, I have some recommendations.

For your Korean colleagues (in Korea), you can wish them Happy Lunar New Year by phone, or email on Thursday, January 19 in the late afternoon. ( Friday in Korea).

For Koreans working in the U.S. or globally you can wish then Happy Lunar New Years on Friday January 20 (pm) or Monday January 23.

Here is the formal greeting--Sae hae bok mani ba deu say yo.

I suggest you also share with your non-Korean teams the significance of the holiday.

Here is some info to share with the team:

The 2012 Lunar New Year celebration ( Seol) is Jan. 22-24. This is the year of the Dragon (actually the Black Dragon.) This year is considered especially lucky...

Along with Chusok (the fall harvest festival), Lunar New Year is the most important of traditional Korean holidays.

In Korea, Seol includes gift-giving and family activities that show respect to elders and ancestors. Most Korean businesses are closed for the holiday with millions of Koreans traveling to join their family or take a short vacation.


Hope this is helpful,   Sae hae bok mani ba deu say yo.
DS