By Honorary Reporter Jean Lee Balatico from Philippines
Photos = Jean Lee Balatico

Seollal (Lunar New Year), one of Korea's two biggest holidays, can be celebrated outside of the country.

That's what I did this year for Seollal in the Philippines. I met friends who are big fans of Hallyu (Korean Wave) at a Korean restaurant, wore elegant Hanbok, played traditional games and exchanged gifts.

Dining at grilled meat restaurant
To me, the highlight of any gathering is food. I ordered a dosirak (lunchbox) while my friends opted for dishes like kimchi jjigae (stew), samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) and haemul pajeon (seafood pancake). I shook my lunchbox to mix the flavors to add an authentic touch of Korean cuisine.

Wearing Hanbok
My Seollal experience reached new heights with Hanbok. I rented an outfit at a Korean park within Glorietta Mall in Makati, Metro Manila. The facility's Hanok-style playground provided the perfect backdrop for capturing memorable photos while wearing traditional attire. Additionally, visitors could print their favorite snapshots directly from a kiosk.

Playing games
No Seollal celebration would be complete without traditional games and gift giving. The theme for our games centered on Korean culture, with the game master making up a quiz on Korean landmarks, facts and places of interest. The top three winners received prizes.

Exchanging gifts and tokens
The exchange of gifts reflected our enthusiasm for Korean culture, as we traded prizes from online Korea-themed events and activities. I got a keychain featuring Korea.net's mascot Kocnuni as well as a mask and souvenirs from Korea.

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.