The Korean Cultural Center in Thailand (Director Lee Sun-ju) held the ‘2026 Lunar New Year Festival’ at the Center on February 17 at 6:00 PM to celebrate Seollal, Korea’s most significant traditional holiday. Approximately 800 people attended the event, spending a meaningful time experiencing representative Korean Lunar New Year traditions, including sebae (formal bows), tteokguk (rice cake soup), and yutnori (traditional board game).

The ‘2026 Lunar New Year Festival’ began with Korean and Thai students offering sebae as a gesture of gratitude to figures who have contributed to the friendship between the two nations. These included Minister Kim Nam-hyuk, Vice President Weerasak of the Thai Korean War Veterans Association, heads of Korean community organizations, and prominent figures from the Thai arts and culture sector.

After receiving the bows, Minister Kim Nam-hyuk offered words of blessing, saying, “I am deeply grateful for the warm affection for Korean culture shown by the many people who visited today’s festival. As we welcome the Year of the Red Horse in 2026, I wish everyone a healthy and vibrant year ahead.”

Following the ceremony, Pinetree, an arts group designated by Chungcheongbuk-do Province, received enthusiastic applause for their performances. They played ‘Binari,’ a song wishing for peace and blessings in the New Year, the Taepyeongso concerto ‘Hojeok Pungnyu,’ and a medley of ‘Arirang,’ Korea’s representative folk song. They further energized the atmosphere by performing ‘Golden,’ a track utilizing recent K-pop music.

Attendees enjoyed tasting tteok-manduguk (rice cake and dumpling soup) and seasonal Korean strawberries while participating in various traditional cultural programs. The activities included:

Tteokmechigi: Pounding rice cakes and tasting injeolmi.
New Year Yut-jeom: Fortunetelling for the year by casting yut sticks.
Traditional Experiences: Trying on hanbok and creating Hojakdo (paintings of magpies and tigers).
Traditional Games: Neolttwigi (seesaw jumping), jegichagi (shuttlecock kicking), and tuho (arrow throwing).
Lucky Draw: A souvenir giveaway featuring Korean ginseng, strawberries, and cosmetics.
“I am delighted to see so many Thai people enjoying Korea’s unique Lunar New Year traditions at the Cultural Center while honoring elders, including Korean War veterans,” said Director Lee Sun-ju. “The Cultural Center plans to host various events this year spanning traditional and contemporary culture—including dance, music, and exhibitions—so we ask for your continued interest.