Seollal (설날) or Lunar New Year is arguably the most celebrated national holiday in Korea. Solar New Year on January 1 is also observed in Korea, however Seollal is much more celebrated and significant and lasts for three days (the day before, the day of, and the day after). In 2019, Seollal falls on February 5 of the Gregorian calendar and Chungdahm teachers have all of February 4 to February 6 off for the holidays.
Read MoreTeachers Share their Experiences While Living Abroad!
Tags: New Years, seollal, teaching at CDL, holiday season
Happy New Year from South Korea! Despite not being a night creature, the motifs have always appealed to me, and Korea delivers. The liveliness, the nonsense, the spectacular karaoke called norebang, the palm-readers, the game rooms or PC Bangs—the possibilities are limitless. But what can I say: even with all the excitement, I enjoy earlier evenings. However, to welcome and further solidify my coming year living and teaching in Korea, I decided I was going to honor New Year’s Eve as truly as possible.
Read MoreTags: New Years, Holidays in South Korea, New Years Eve, New Year's in South Korea
Bring on 2016! Top 3 Achievable Goals While Teaching in Korea
Posted on Tue, Jan 05, 2016 @ 03:30 PM
With 2015 having just ended, and the new year has just begun, it's that time of year when people start reflecting on the past year and figuring out what improvements they can make in the New Year. For us ESL teachers, our lives teaching abroad do not always have to depend on the present moment, and we too can make some New Year resolution goals that can set us on an even better course that feels progressive and inspiring. Here are 3 goals that I believe are acheivable for all while teaching in Korea in the New Year.
Read MoreTags: New Years, Teach Abroad, saving money in Korea, teach in Korea, New Year's in Seoul, New Year's in South Korea, travel, traveling, weekend travel, skills
An English Teacher's New Year's Celebration in Korea on Jeju Island!
Posted on Wed, Jan 02, 2013 @ 04:00 PM
Jeju's Seongsan Sunrise peak (seen in the the picture above) has been ranked the most beautiful place to visit in Korea by CNNGo and is the iconic image of the island of Jeju. It is an amazing place to spend a day, but around New Years, it becomes home to the Seongsan Sunrise Festival, and it is easy to spend a few days at this awesome landmark.
The Sunrise Festival is centered around watching the sunrise on the morning of January 1st. Thousands of participants hike up to the peak and gaze out to the ocean to watch the first sunrise of the year. It is a surreal experience to be with this mass of people and welcome in the New Year, while watching the sun blaze across the ocean.
Tags: New Years, Korean culture, teaching in Korea, festival, jeju, Holidays in South Korea