How the Korean Lunar New Year Works

2026-08-07

Korea's lunar new year, Seollal (설날), is one of the country's biggest holidays — and it's also a meaningful date on the saju calendar.

Why the date moves every year

Seollal follows the lunar calendar, so its date on the solar (Gregorian) calendar shifts each year, usually landing between late January and mid-February. It marks the second new moon after the winter solstice.

A holiday, not a mystery

Seollal is a family holiday, similar in spirit to how many cultures gather to mark a new year — sharing food, visiting family, and starting the year with a clean slate. There's nothing esoteric about it; it's simply a well-loved seasonal tradition.

What it means for your saju

Interestingly, Seollal isn't quite the same as the start of a new year on the saju calendar — the saju year actually turns over at ipchun (입춘), the first day of spring on the solar calendar, not on Seollal itself. Saju Letter marks both dates with a special one-time letter for subscribers.

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