2026 is the Year of the (Red) Fire Horse. 丙午年 Fire Horse years are known for intense energy, bold movement, and a strong desire for independence. The Horse symbolizes freedom, speed, and confidence, while Fire adds passion, ambition, and dramatic change.
Tuesday February 17, 2025 is Lunar New Year’s Day.
One interesting part of modern Korean life is the late-night convenience store culture. In Korea, convenience stores are more than places to buy snacks. They are social spaces, quick restaurants, and even study spots. After work, many people stop by for instant ramen (ramyeon, 라면) or ready-to-eat meals (pyeon-eui-jeom dosi-rak, 편의점 도시락).
Fo many Koreans, one of the most comforting parts of life is the ondol, the heated floor system that warms homes from the ground up. In winter, nothing feels better than sitting on a warm floor with a blanket and a cup of tea. Many visitors are surprised by how even and gentle the warmth feels compared to radiators or blow heaters.
On early mornings in Seoul, the city feels completely different. Before traffic builds and cafés fill with students, you can hear the soft echo of delivery scooters and the rustle of street vendors setting up stalls.
There’s a special kind of calm that appears in Seoul during winter. The city stays busy, of course, but step inside a warm café in Gangnam, Hongdae, or even a tiny alleyway in Ikseon-dong, and everything slows down. The windows fog, the heaters hum quietly, and people wrap their hands around hot drinks like they’re holding onto little pieces of warmth.
Today is Thanksgiving in the U.S., and it always reminds me of how much it feels like Chuseok, Korea’s major harvest holiday. Both traditions center on family gatherings, sharing food, and expressing gratitude. Even the atmosphere is similar—busy kitchens, traveling to see loved ones, and favorite comfort dishes that only taste right on this day.
They say the daily commute in South Korea is the longest in the world — an average of about 1 hour and 48 minutes each way. That’s 40 minutes more than the global average of 1 hour 08 minutes.
According to the Korea Herald, a 34-year-old man named Lee Han‑soo says his door-to-desk commute takes nearly 2½ hours every day.
