Korea Explained: What Christmas Is Like In South Korea And The Role Of K-Pop And K-Dramas In Christmas Traditions

It's the most wonderful time of the year once again and the world is filled with festive cheer. As universal as the Christmas holiday has become, it is a holiday that is celebrated differently by various cultures around the world. The same can be said for how the holiday is spent in South Korea.

Korea has a very unique Christmas culture that those who are unfamiliar with the country might not know about.

Whereas Christmas can be a religious or familial occasion in some parts of the world, in Korea it is considered a day for fun and romance. Let's take a deeper look at the K-Christmas culture and the Christmas traditions it has adopted.

 

The Meaning of Christmas to Most of the World

Religious beliefs associated with Christmas in many parts of the world

Christmas' origin stems from the Christian faith and commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. Observed as a celebration of his birth, the occasion led to the annual honoring of the date at a Christian festival.

Today, Christmas is the most widely celebrated holiday in the world regardless of religion. In fact, figures such as Santa Clause have become prominent figures associated with the holiday. As of October 2022, it is believed that 165 countries in the world celebrate Christmas. This includes South Korea. However, it is not considered a major holiday.

 

Christmas as a family holiday and some popular Christmas traditions worldwide

Christmas originally started as a Christian festival. However, with time it became a family holiday celebrated by all regardless of whether they are Christians or not.

Some of the most popular c