Korea is home to a vibrant mix of traditional holidays (명절) and modern celebrations. If you’re visiting Korea, teaching Korean culture, or just want to deepen your knowledge of Korean traditions, learning holiday-related Korean vocabulary is a must.

In this guide, you’ll learn 60+ essential Korean holiday words and phrases — including names of holidays, common greetings, cultural terms, and related expressions to help you talk like a native during Korea’s biggest celebrations.

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📅 Major Korean Holidays Vocabulary

Korean	Pronunciation	English
설날	seol-nal	Korean Lunar New Year
추석	chu-seok	Korean Harvest Festival
어린이날	eo-ri-ni-nal	Children’s Day
광복절	gwang-bok-jeol	Liberation Day
삼일절	sam-il-jeol	Independence Movement Day
석가탄신일	seok-ga-tan-sin-il	Buddha’s Birthday
현충일	hyeon-chung-il	Memorial Day
한글날	han-geul-nal	Hangul Day
크리스마스	keu-ri-seu-ma-seu	Christmas
추위절	chu-wi-jeol	Thanksgiving (Christian)
신정	sin-jeong	Solar New Year (Jan 1st)
대보름	dae-bo-reum	First Full Moon of Lunar Year
정월대보름	jeong-wol-dae-bo-reum	Lunar Full Moon Festival
발렌타인데이	bal-len-ta-in-de-i	Valentine’s Day
화이트데이	hwa-i-teu-de-i	White Day
블랙데이	beul-laek-de-i	Black Day (April 14, for singles)
빼빼로데이	ppae-ppae-ro-de-i	Pepero Day (Nov 11)

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🎊 Common Holiday Expressions in Korean

Korean	Pronunciation	English
새해 복 많이 받으세요	sae-hae bok ma-ni ba-deu-se-yo	Happy New Year
즐거운 명절 보내세요	jeul-geo-un myeong-jeol bo-nae-se-yo	Have a happy holiday
명절 잘 보내세요	myeong-jeol jal bo-nae-se-yo	Enjoy your holiday
건강하세요	geon-gang-ha-se-yo	Stay healthy
사랑하는 가족과 함께하세요	sa-rang-ha-neun ga-jok-gwa ham-kke-ha-se-yo	Be with your loved ones
풍성한 한가위 보내세요	pung-seong-han han-ga-wi bo-nae-se-yo	Have a bountiful Chuseok
기쁨이 가득하길 바랍니다	gi-ppeum-i ga-deuk-ha-gil ba-ra-mni-da	Wishing you joy
감사하는 마음으로	gam-sa-ha-neun ma-eum-eu-ro	With a grateful heart

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🧧 Traditional Holiday Vocabulary (Customs, Food & More)

Korean	Pronunciation	English
차례	cha-rye	Ancestral memorial ritual
세배	se-bae	New Year’s bow
떡국	tteok-guk	Rice cake soup (Seollal dish)
송편	song-pyeon	Half-moon rice cake (Chuseok dish)
한복	han-bok	Traditional Korean dress
윷놀이	yut-no-ri	Traditional Korean board game
성묘	seong-myo	Visit ancestral graves
제사	je-sa	Ancestral rite
설날 선물	seol-nal seon-mul	New Year’s gift
추석 선물세트	chu-seok seon-mul-se-teu	Chuseok gift set
명절 음식	myeong-jeol eum-sik	Holiday food
가족 모임	ga-jok mo-im	Family gathering
친척	chin-cheok	Relative
고향	go-hyang	Hometown

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🛍️ Holiday-Related Words for Shopping and Travel

Korean	Pronunciation	English
명절 연휴	myeong-jeol yeon-hyu	Holiday break
귀성길	gwi-seong-gil	Journey to hometown
귀경길	gwi-gyeong-gil	Return trip to city
교통 정체	gyo-tong jeong-che	Traffic jam
할인 행사	hal-in haeng-sa	Discount event
명절 대목	myeong-jeol dae-mok	Peak holiday sales season

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💬 Practice Time!

Try translating these:
1️⃣ How do you say “Happy New Year” in Korean?
2️⃣ What’s the traditional dish eaten during Chuseok?
3️⃣ How do you say “Hangul Day” in Korean?

Leave your answers in the comments and test your holiday vocabulary! 🎯

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