Show Notes
What is 설날 (Seollal) really like in Korea? In this special Lunar New Year episode of TOPIK & Beyond, Eliza shares the cultural, emotional, and linguistic layers behind one of Korea’s most important traditional holidays. Beyond the textbook definitions of 설날, 차례, and 세배, this episode explores what Lunar New Year in Korea actually feels like — including family expectations, generational differences, emotional nuance, and real-life Korean expressions you’ll hear during the holiday. If you’re learning Korean for real connection — not just vocabulary — this episode will deepen your understanding of Korean culture and communication.
In this episode, you’ll discover: The meaning of 설날 (Seollal) and how it differs from January 1st What happens during traditional family gatherings The role of 차례 (ancestral ritual) and 세배 (New Year bow) Why 설날 can feel warm, stressful, or emotionally complex Real Korean phrases commonly used during Lunar New Year How understanding 설날 helps with TOPIK reading and writing sections This cultural awareness strengthens both your real-life communication skills and your performance on exams like TOPIK. If you are a visual learner, read this episode on Substack. If You Enjoyed the Episode…
Please consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a quick review. It helps more Korean learners discover the podcast and feel supported on their TOPIK journey. Connect with Me 🌐 Website: https://www.joaacademy.com/ 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy 💌 Join the Korean FLOW Club for weekly practice in real Korean (reading, listening, speaking & writing).
More from Korean Unpacked
잘 먹겠습니다 translates as “I will eat well” - but nobody at a Korean dinner table is making a promise about their eating. In this episode of Korean Unpacked, Eliza unpacks the everyday Korean phrases that don’t translate neatly into English, and what they’re really doing: marking a moment, and noticing the people in it.
In a textbook, it’s 저는 어제 친구를 만났어요. Between friends, it’s 나 어제 친구 만났어. So where did the particles go? In this episode of Korean Unpacked, Eliza shows what really happens to Korean particles in everyday conversation - when they disappear, when they shrink, and when they stay.
You learned that 을/를 marks the thing you like, need, or have. So why does Korean say 커피가 좋아요, 시간이 필요해요 and 돈이 없어요? In this episode of Korean Unpacked, Eliza shows why these aren’t mistakes - and the one simple question that helps you choose the right particle.
You know 은/는 is the topic particle and 이/가 marks the subject. So why do particles still feel uncertain in real Korean? In the first episode of Korean Unpacked (formerly TOPIK & Beyond), Eliza looks at what particles are actually doing in a conversation: framing, identifying, contrasting, and sometimes quietly disappearing.
Episode 100 breaks the usual format on purpose. No structured lesson, no vocabulary cluster. Just Eliza, speaking honestly about what surprised her over a hundred episodes, what she got wrong early on, and one practical thing she wants every listener to take away - plus what she'd tell the version of herself who recorded Episode 1. It closes with a genuine thank-you to everyone who's been listening - however long you've been here.