Many Thai students studying Korean language at 4 Universities and 9 high schools, such as Chulalongkorn, Thammasat, Srinakharinwirot, UTCC, Wattana Wittayalai Academy, and Rittiyawannalai School.
First, Korean and Thai young students make a deep traditional bow to elders such as H.E. Mr. Moon and AM Veerasuk Kanmany (The Vice President of Thai Korean War Veterans Association). It is wishing them a happy new year, which is called 'Sebae'. Then, the elders reward this gesture by giving New Year's gift money (in the event, gift voucher will be given) with words of blessing to their juniors.
'Sebae' reminds 'Rot-dam-nam-hua' ceremony during Songkran Festival in Thailand, as both are for paying respect to elders in common.
After then, various sessions for experiencing traditional activities during the Korean New Year's Day: Traditional Plays such as Tuho, Jegichagi and Top-spinning, making rice-cake using a mallet and wearing Hanbok. Tteokguk, rice-cake soup is a symbolic dish that Korean eat on a New Year's Day. Traditionally, Korean make rice-cake using Tteokme, a mallet for making it. The white oval shape of rice-cake in the soup symbolizes a bright and prosperous new year.
The event ends as all attendee sample Tteokguk with wishing happy new year.
Mr. Cho, Jae Il, the director of the center said, "Korean New Year has the warm family culture, as the family get together with paying respect to the elders, eating symbolic dish and enjoying traditional play. I hope that many Thai come and enjoy our 'Seollal' experience, which is different from well-known Chinese New Year's Day."
Typically, red color and dumpling are symbol of Chinese New Year, but Korean New Year's symbol is white which can see in the rice-cake soup and envelope for gift money to juniors, meaning all things newly start.
Meanwhile, there will be Korean musical performance after the event, using Gayageum and Geomungo, traditional stringed instruments. The entrance is free.
Source: Korean Cultural Center