Hello! I’m Danny, your expert Korean teacher from Podo Korean. As another year draws to a close, a palpable sense of excitement for a fresh start fills the air. People all over the world buzz with hope and anticipation for what’s to come. How do you welcome the new year? In Korea, it’s an incredibly special time filled with rich traditions, delicious food, and heartfelt connections. Families gather to share meals, exchange warm blessings, and set ambitious new goals. This guide is designed to help you celebrate the Korean New Year 2026 like a local. You’ll learn how to impress your Korean friends and colleagues with the perfect greetings, set your own resolutions in Korean, and dive deep into the fascinating culture of the Korean zodiac, including why 2026 is the special ‘Year of the Horse.’ Are you ready? Let’s journey into the vibrant world of Korean New Year celebrations together!
“새해 복 많이 받으세요!”: Mastering Korean New Year Greetings
If there’s one phrase you’ll hear everywhere in Korea as the year turns, it’s “새해 복 많이 받으세요” (Saehae bok mani badeuseyo). This is the quintessential New Year’s greeting, used for both the solar New Year on January 1st and the much bigger Lunar New Year celebration, Seollal. It’s a magical phrase that fits nearly every situation.
But what does it actually mean? Let’s break it down:
- 새해 (Saehae): New Year
- 복 (Bok): Luck, Fortune, or Blessings
- 많이 (Mani): A lot of / Many
- 받으세요 (Badeuseyo): Please receive (honorific form)
So, literally translated, it means, “Please receive a lot of luck in the New Year.” It’s a beautiful, warm wish for the other person’s happiness and prosperity. You can say this to anyone—your boss, your teacher, your friends, or the cashier at the convenience store.
Setting Your 2026 Goals: How to Make New Year’s Resolutions in Korean
The new year is the perfect time for a ‘새해 다짐’ (Saehae dajim), or New Year’s Resolution. Koreans are just as enthusiastic about setting goals as anyone else. You’ll hear declarations like, “올해는 꼭 살을 뺄 거야!” (This year, I’m definitely going to lose weight!) or “올해는 새로운 언어를 배울 거야!” (This year, I’m going to learn a new language!).
Since you’re reading this, I bet ‘Mastering Korean’ is on your list! To help you articulate your awesome resolutions, here are three essential grammar patterns.
1. ~기로 했어요 (I decided to…)
This pattern is used when you’ve made a firm decision or a promise to do something. It carries a nuance of strong willpower. You simply attach it to a verb stem.
- 올해부터는 매일 30분씩 한국어 뉴스를 듣기로 했어요. (I decided to listen to Korean news for 30 minutes every day starting this year.)
- 건강을 위해서 술을 끊기로 했어요. (I decided to quit drinking for my health.)
- 저는 2026년에 한국 여행을 가기로 했어요. (I decided to travel to Korea in 2026.)
2. ~(으)려고 해요 (I intend to / I’m planning to…)
This expression indicates an intention or plan. It feels a bit softer than ‘~기로 했어요’ and suggests that you have a plan in mind, even if it’s not set in stone. Use ‘으려고 해요’ after a verb stem ending in a consonant, and ‘려고 해요’ after a verb stem ending in a vowel.
- 올해는 한국어능력시험(TOPIK)을 보려고 해요. (I’m planning to take the TOPIK exam this year.)
- 한국인 친구를 사귀기 위해서 동호회에 가입하려고 해요. (I intend to join a club to make Korean friends.)
- 저녁에는 되도록이면 책을 많이 읽으려고 해요. (I intend to read as many books as possible in the evenings.)
3. ~고 싶어요 (I want to…)
This is one of the most fundamental and important expressions! It’s used to state your hopes and desires. It’s less about a concrete plan and more about a wish from the heart.
- 저는 한국 드라마를 자막 없이 보고 싶어요. (I want to watch K-dramas without subtitles.)
- 언젠가 한국에서 한 달 살기를 해보고 싶어요. (I want to try living in Korea for a month someday.)
- 새해에는 더 긍정적인 사람이 되고 싶어요. (I want to become a more positive person in the new year.)
Now, try combining them to make your own resolutions! For example:
“2026년에는 Podo Korean 앱으로 매일 공부하기로 했어요. 그래서 연말에는 한국인과 자유롭게 대화하고 싶어요.”
(In 2026, I decided to study with the Podo Korean app every day. Therefore, I want to converse freely with Koreans by the end of the year.)
Putting your resolution into action is the most important step, and Podo Korean is here to turn your goals into reality!
Welcome the Year of the Horse: Understanding the Korean Zodiac for 2026
Just as Western astrology has star signs, many East Asian cultures have a zodiac system based on twelve animals, known as the 12 간지 (Sibiganji). This zodiac, or ‘띠’ (tti) in Korean, assigns an animal to each year in a 12-year cycle. It’s a deeply ingrained part of the culture. Instead of asking for someone’s age directly, which can be a bit sensitive, Koreans often ask, “무슨 띠예요?” (Museun tti-yeyo?), meaning, “What’s your zodiac sign?” to get a good idea of their age. Fascinating, right?
The 12 animals rotate in the following order:
- 쥐 (Jwi) – Rat
- 소 (So) – Ox
- 호랑이 (Horangi) – Tiger
- 토끼 (Tokki) – Rabbit
- 용 (Yong) – Dragon
- 뱀 (Baem) – Snake
- 말 (Mal) – Horse
- 양 (Yang) – Sheep
- 원숭이 (Wonsungi) – Monkey
- 닭 (Dak) – Rooster
- 개 (Gae) – Dog
- 돼지 (Dwaeji) – Pig
Following this cycle, the upcoming Korean New Year 2026 ushers in the Year of the Horse (말의 해, Mal-ui hae)! To give you some context, 2025 is the Year of the Snake, and 2027 will be the Year of the Sheep.
More specifically, 2026 is known as the Year of the ‘Red Horse’ (붉은 말의 해, Bulgeun mal-ui hae). In the traditional Korean calendar, this year is called ‘Byeong-o-nyeon’ (병오년), where ‘Byeong’ symbolizes the element of fire and the color red, while ‘O’ represents the horse.
It’s also believed that people inherit personality traits from their birth year’s animal. Those born in the Year of the Horse are said to be energetic, sociable, passionate, and fiercely independent. If you have any friends with this zodiac sign, you’ve likely felt their vibrant energy! Of course, this is just for fun, so don’t take it too seriously. Let’s hope we can all channel the powerful spirit of the Horse in 2026 to gallop towards our goals.
A New Beginning with Korean for the New Year 2026!
Wow, we’ve covered so much about Korean New Year culture today! You can now confidently wish someone a happy new year, express your own resolutions using patterns like ‘~기로 했어요,’ and understand the cultural significance of 2026 being the Year of the Horse. Learning a new language is like opening a door to a whole new world. This Korean New Year 2026, why not make learning Korean your grand resolution and swing that door wide open?
What are your resolutions for 2026? Try writing them in Korean and share them in the comments below! I’ll personally read them and cheer you on. And to get the most systematic and enjoyable help with your Korean learning journey, start with us at Podo Korean. Download the app right now and make 2026 a meaningful year of incredible growth in your Korean skills!
