When one brings up Christmas in Korea, the immediate thoughts that come to mind may be holding hands with a significant other and clumsily rolling down the icy skating zone. Next stop, walking through the bustling Christmas-themed market at the Hyundai Department Store as adults glance at you in approval or annoyance.
However, the idea of spending Christmas alone in Korea, coined as sol-keu, seems much more daunting than spending the holiday alone. Compared to when I lived in America, one noticeable difference during this holiday season was that the desire to be in a relationship during Christmas is more prevalent in Korea. In Western culture, there is a stronger emphasis on spending quality time with family and friends as demonstrated in iconic films like “Home Alone,” “Elf,” and “The Grinch.” In Korea, however, nearly everything is more explicitly couple-centered. For instance, there are privileges in entertainment for people in relationships, with amusement parks like Lotte World and Everland offering discounts for couples year-round.
These events and social media posts promoting those events only exponentially increase during holidays, especially Christmas. The allure of experiencing love under an evergreen tree decked with glimmering, golden lights from head to toe with an old-timey song drawing in the background is subsequently heightened as well.
With such constant reminders of one’s relationship status during this holiday season, the societal pressure to find a partner before Christmas to avoid being seen as lonely or undesirable can be suffocating. But this idea of Christmas being enhanced with a romantic partner is overly glamorized by the media, and it is not always the case that you are happier in a relationship or without.
According to anonymous interviews with some of the couples of SIS, the Christmas season is not too big of an occasion, contrary to the message boosted with couple culture in Korea, with two couples stating that they are simply going to go fine dining together. However, due to the amount of time the couples interact daily, both couples opted to keep the day casual. One commonality between the two couples is that both relationships were ones that have lasted for over a year, showing that not all long-lasting relationships with genuine connections buy into the standards set by the media.
Furthermore, the stigma surrounding single students during this festive season is not as all-encompassing as it may seem. Despite the promotional content and swarms of couples during the glimmering white streets, many students prioritize self-care and personal growth. Such ideas are applied to other holidays such as Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, coined with variations like Friendsgiving or Galentine’s Day. The same can be said for Christmas—we can prioritize strengthening our platonic relationships or our familial relationships during this time as well. After all, this holiday centers around upholding family togetherness.
Meaningful connections can extend beyond romantic relationships. We must shift our attitude from the co-dependent and superficial outlook placed on romantic relationships during significant moments throughout the year to grow our individuality. Christmas can be a time for merriment, love, and community—whether or not you have a significant other to prove it this season.
