Seollal, the Lunar New Year, is more than just the most celebrated holiday in Korea. It is a time when families get together, honor their ancestors, play folk games, and share special foods, such as 떡국 (Korean rice cake soup). This year, the tradition was shared with three students - Andrea from Honduras (2025 MDP), Mayowa from Nigeria (2025 MDP), and Aderah from Uganda (2025 MPP) - who were invited by their Korean Language instructor, Professor Jaegon Lee from SEM International (a non-governmental organization that assists the resettlement of foreign nationals in Korea).

For many of them, this was their first time celebrating Seollal. Until then, they had only seen the holiday through K-dramas and social media. We asked the three students to share their impressions of taking part in a celebration that can look very different from the ones they know at home. What moments will they carry with them long after the holiday lights are taken down?

How the invitation arrived

When asked how they got invited to celebrate with the family, they told us that the invitation was warm and kind, which “set the tone for the entire experience.”

Q: How did you get invited to join the Korean family?

Mayowa: “Our Korean language instructor, Professor Jaegon Lee from SEM International, asked about our holiday plans during our last class before Seollal. When he learned that we had no plans, he kindly invited me, Andrea from Honduras, and Aderah from Uganda to spend the day with his family. His invitation was warm and sincere, and it set the tone for the entire experience.”

The professor's simple question turned a quiet evening into a cultural immersion, and the students walked through the front door of the Lee household, nervous yet excited.

A holiday that looks familiar - yet different

For many Koreans, Seollal means returning home, bowing to elders, and sharing warm food with family. But is this different from what our students experience in their own culture?

Mayowa: In Nigeria, major celebrations such as New Year, Christmas, Easter, and Sallah are important family-centered events. Families come together to share meals, talk, dance, and spend time together. Children especially enjoy these moments through gifts and shared joy, which feel very similar to the spirit of Seollal.

Andrea: Back in Honduras, we also have a big family gathering on New Year’s Day, but the focus is more on fireworks and music. The idea of honoring ancestors with a specific ritual was new to me.

So, even with geographic differences, the core values of gratitude, family, and generosity are similar across their traditions.

The heart of the celebration: food and ritual

The ancestral rite, charye (차례), honors ancestors. During this rite, a Korean family prepares extensive food offerings and bows and pours wine to show respect to their ancestors. The purpose of this rite is to show gratitude and remembrance, often including photos.

The students were surprised by how intentional the celebration was. Behind every dish and conversation was a meaning that made the celebration a good opportunity for cultural exchange.

One of the main parts of celebrating Seollal is the food. During the celebration, eating tteokguk is like a ceremony of rebirth. It is believed that eating it can grant good luck for the year and give one “sal” (one more year of age), but there are more dishes that are shared during the celebration.

We wanted to know what dishes were on the table and which ones they tried for the first time.

Q: What dishes did you try for the first time?

Mayowa: “I tried jeon for the first time, a crispy pancake made with beans, which became my favorite dish. I also enjoyed japchae, made with glass noodles, vegetables, and beef. This was my second time eating tteokguk this year, which made celebrating two New Years feel special and symbolic.”

A holiday that bridges distance

As an international student, coming to a country far from your own can feel isolating and sad at times, especially during the holidays, but having the opportunity to participate in these types of events makes us feel more welcome and connected while we’re here. It is like making a home away from home. Moments like these turn strangers into temporary families.

We wanted to know how this experience would be remembered by the students years from now, and this is what one of them said:

Mayowa: “I will remember the generosity of our hosts, how warmly we were welcomed, and how sharing a meal created a sense of belonging. It reminded me that cultural experiences become most meaningful when they are shared with kindness and openness.”

Why this matters for us

Seollal is a traditional three-day holiday, during which Koreans travel in large numbers back to their hometowns, exchange gifts, and participate in games that have been played for centuries. By inviting these students, Professor Lee demonstrated that cultural exchange is not just an academic experience but a lived one that nurtures empathy and builds community.

Stories like these remind us that the most powerful learning happens when we sit together at a table. This experience will forever mark the lives of the students who participated and inspire others to open their doors to friends from around the world. To go out and make memories and enjoy aspects of a culture, even though it may be different from our own, can make us feel welcome and cared for.