What wishes are said during the Korean New Year holiday/설날?

Question

What greetings or wishes are typically or traditionally said on during the Korean New Year holiday, 설날 (Jan. 28, 2017)?

Answer 1

Happy New Year’s Greeting In Korean

"새해 복 많이 받으세요" is the most common expression to use for *설날 (Lunar New Year’s Day).

 It literally means "Please receive lots of good luck/fortune in the new year."

새해: new year

복: good luck/good fortune/bless

많이(많다): lots of/many

받으세요 (받다):to receive/have

+으세요: please (honorific ending)



* 설날l (Lunar New Year’s Day) is the most celebrated traditional holiday for Korean. However, many Koreans now also celebrate the New Year at the start of solar calendar (January 1). Therefore, many Koreans celebrate New Year’s Day twice.

Answer 2

I learned 추석 잘 보내세요 as a polite greeting on Chuseok, so it made sense I could adapt it to Lunar New Year by saying 설날 잘 보내세요 which seemed to work. Good luck!