Halloween in Korea.. Not what you might think.

By: Jude Falcon - EIC MSTv Korea

I'm a Louisiana boy, through and through.  But, I've been living in the Southern Korean peninsula for several years now and never cease to be amazed by the differences/similarities in our lifestyles.

Take Halloween, for example..

I love celebrating this "one last blast" of naughty fun, before the family friendly holiday season, steamrolls in!  In ole Baton Rouge,  I was used to haunted houses (like the 13th Gate), haunted corn mazes, awesome parties and Halloween concerts.  But here in Daejeon, S Korea, most everything is up for grabs -- but, you can cross the spooky houses off that list.  Damn!!!

Koreans don't typically ever dress up for Halloween. It isn't really something they're into, or taught unless they attended an American style public school when they were kids.  However, this year was the largest amount of Koreans that I'd ever seen dressed up!  Thank you, globalization!

"Trick or Treating" exists on some college campuses, but its generally put on by university professors and colleges for their kids to take part in.  However, these are still just small pockets, not wide spread just yet.

I can say that the spooky fun interest is growing; however I highly doubt it'll ever catch on like it has in the U.S.


The parties of colorful costumed people litter the streets, going from this bar to that party.  Yet, the familiar wailing sounds of a large, metropolis haunted house is very absence - and very missed.  But, we do party and rock out to great bands; as part of the overall celebration.  All in all, it is lots of fun.

So, just what is Halloween in South Korea??  Simply put: its a big costume party without the real frights.

And for a Halloween loving Louisianan in the far East, its just something more to tug at the homesick strings.

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