Spending Lunar New Year Holiday with Smartphones

On Korea's biggest holiday, the Lunar New Year, the nationwide exodus to hometowns pack the highways so tightly that roads could be mistaken for parking lots.

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But smartphones have significantly relieved the stress of making this trip back home.

[Interview : Hong Taek-jun, Seoul resident] "Because we can search real-time traffic information with our smartphones by using applications like Twitter, I think they have definitely made our travel back home a lot faster".

Now, people may search real-time traffic information through social networking services like Facebook and Twitter, or download applications that display traffic conditions up to the minute throughout the country.

They may also monitor each highway's traffic on CCTV.

These technologies have all made everyone's journey back home an easier one.

[Interview : Na Ung-jin, Director of ITS & Road Environment Division Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs] "We've made it easy for people to monitor the CCTV system of national highways. Now they can find out where to make detours and avoid traffic jams while they are driving".

Smartphones have also transformed the way regular households celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday.

Lee Myeong-jin, who was married last fall, is spending her first Lunar New Year holiday with her in-laws.

It will be her first time preparing traditional food. But her smartphone is there to show her the ropes.

[Interview : Lee Myeong-jin, Wife of a newly wed] "There are so many dishes that go on a memorial service table, and I didn't know how to prepare them or put them in the right order. But thankfully, I could find out the information on my smartphone, which made things a lot easier for a first-timer like me".

In Korea, people set up tables for ancestral rites on big holidays like Chuseok and the Lunar New Year. The placement of each dish holds a significant meaning, but it's not easy for young generations to learn them by heart.

[Interview : Jeong Chung-il, Husband of a newly wed] "It's my first time preparing a memorial service table, so I'm looking up all the steps on my smartphone".

Here again, smartphones come in for the rescue! Thanks to applications that show each step for setting up the table and others that teach traditional manners, newly weds are able to navigate the complicated procedures of traditional ceremonies without any problem.
And parents are happy to see their children making these arrangements without their assistance.

[Interview : Jeong Jong-sik, Father of Jeong Chung-il] "I'm proud that my children are preparing the memorial service table thanks to smartphones. I'm grateful that they're doing it without my help".

After the memorial service, it's time for the New Year bowing.

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "Have a prosperous new year!"

Bowing takes place in order of age.

[SOV]
[Interview :
] "Have a prosperous new year!"

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "To you as well!"

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "Grandpa is going to give you some money so you can have a prosperous new year".

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "Thank you".

Parents give cash presents to wish for their children's prosperity.

Yet again, smartphones are making this process easier than ever.

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "Have a prosperous new year!"

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "To you as well, Hyeon-seong".

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "This year, I'm going to give you a gifticon".

Now, parents are able to give gifticons instead of cash, so that children may use them to buy snacks, ice cream and other treats. What do children think of gifticons[Interview : ] "Hurray! I got a gifticon".

[Interview : Jeong Hyeon-seong, Nephew of Jeong Chung-il] "When I get cash gifts for Lunar New Year's, my mom just deposits them into my bank account. But I like gifticons because I can share them with friends".

Yut, a traditional Korean game, is an indispensable element to the Korean Lunar New Year's celebration.

Yut is a board game in which the first out of two teams that brings their tokens back home, wins.

But Yut played by this family seems a little different.
They're playing it not with an actual board and yut-sticks, but on their smartphones, which gives them a random combination of yut-sticks upon shaking them.

Smartphones have thus replaced the traditional board and yut-sticks. With the added convenience and fun offered by smartphones, the game of yut decorates the finale of this family's Lunar New Year's celebration.

[Interview : Jeong Hwa-seong, Husband] "The game of yut normally requires a board and yut-sticks. But we don't need them if we have a smartphone because the entire family can play the game on it".

Housewives, perhaps, are the most worn out after the holiday. The nationwide fatigue even gave rise to the term "post-holiday syndrome".

Jeong Hwa-seong has therefore set out to give his wife a proper massage. But he's not so reckless as to jump on the task without a plan. Instead, he looks up a map of important acupuncture points using his smartphone.

[Interview : Jeong Hwa-seong, Husband] "This is an application that gives you massages. I figured my wife would be tired from making all the preparations, so I'm giving her a massage using this application".

If massage instructions aren't enough, there are applications that offer physical assistance. This application, which makes the smartphone vibrate to give massages, is another addition to a long list of applications that are making everyone's holiday a pleasant one.

[Interview : Yun Hui-jin, Wife of Jeong Hwa-seong] "It feels great. Smartphones have been really useful for this Lunar New Year holiday. Thanks, smartphone!"

This Lunar New Year holiday has been a chance for smartphones to shine with their "smart" features. We look forward to more innovative applications that will help next year's Lunar New Year's celebration.

[STUDIO]

I would love to have that step by step guide to set the table.
It reduces the anxiety level of not being embarrassed!
I've gotten those gifts over the smartphone before but lost them or deleted them by accident.
I know me too.
I like playing yut the old-fashioned way. I like the sounds of the wood sticks hitting against each other.
But whoever came up with these great ideas did them so quickly.
Up next we'll show you some more traditional ways people enjoyed Lunar New Year.