Korean Dictionary
How to say "New Year's Day" in Korean
“New Year's Day” in Korean is 신정 (pronounced "sinjeong").
신정
sinjeong
Usage & Context
신정 on January 1st is the solar New Year in Korea and is a public holiday. While 설날 (Lunar New Year) is more culturally significant many Koreans also celebrate 신정 by counting down at public events. Bosingak Bell-ringing ceremony in Seoul on 신정 Eve is a famous tradition where the bell is struck 33 times at midnight.
Example Sentence
보신각에서 신정 타종 행사를 봤어요.
I watched the New Year bell-ringing ceremony at Bosingak.
How to use 신정 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “New Year's Day” is 신정, romanized as sinjeong.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 신정.
Pronunciation Guide
Say "Sin-jeong." "Sin" sounds like the English word "sin." "Jeong" sounds like "jung" in "jungle," but with a slightly softer 'j' and ending with the 'ng' sound as in "sing."
More Example Sentences
Discussing holiday plans with a friend.
신정 연휴에 가족들과 함께 여행을 갈 계획이에요.
I'm planning to travel with my family during the New Year's Day holiday.
Explaining Korean holiday customs to someone unfamiliar.
한국에서는 신정보다 설날을 더 크게 쇠는 편이에요.
In Korea, Lunar New Year (Seollal) is generally celebrated more grandly than New Year's Day (Sinjeong).
Recounting New Year's Day traditions.
신정 아침에 떡국을 먹고 새해 인사를 드렸어요.
On New Year's Day morning, I ate tteokguk and wished everyone a happy new year.
Cultural Context
신정 (Sinjeong) refers to the solar New Year's Day on January 1st. While it is a public holiday and many Koreans celebrate it, it is generally less culturally significant than 설날 (Seollal), the Lunar New Year. However, traditions like the Bosingak Bell-ringing ceremony in Seoul on New Year's Eve, where the bell is struck 33 times at midnight, are popular ways to mark 신정. Many people also watch the first sunrise of the year.
Editorial note
We review entries like 신정 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
신정 잘 보내세요!
Have a good New Year's Day!
신정에는 보통 뭐 하세요?
What do you usually do on New Year's Day?
신정 연휴가 짧아서 아쉬워요.
It's a pity the New Year's Day holiday is short.
Related Expressions
설날
seollal
Lunar New Year
새해
saehae
New Year
해돋이
haedoji
sunrise viewing
공휴일
gonghyuil
public holiday
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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