Lunar New Year Morning of an Elderly Couple in the Countryside Amid COVID-19

An elder from Seobanjong, Nosongjeong Village, Muan-gun is performing the ancestral rites. / Photo by Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Seo Young-seo] On Lunar New Year's morning, when sons, daughters, and grandchildren living in the city would usually come down and make a lively noise, this year, due to the continued spread of COVID-19, the usual scenes cannot be seen.

On Lunar New Year’s Day, families who have been apart gather at their hometown houses to perform ancestral rites and visit ancestral graves. They visit elders and relatives to pay New Year's bows and exchange well-wishes. This has been the traditional custom of celebrating the Lunar New Year.

If it were not for COVID-19, the rural village farm roads would have been packed with cars of children coming down from distant places. Not only that, but even people visiting ancestral graves were so few that it was hard to find anyone.

Noseongjeong Village in Mongtan-myeon, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, is a village of the Leecheon Seo (徐) clan that has been passed down for 400 years, emphasizing propriety and respect for elders.

At the home of Seo Ban-jong (86), who was born and has lived in Noseongjeong Village for over 80 years, there are two sons and three daughters, with daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, and grandchildren who used to pay New Year's bows and visit ancestral graves together every Lunar New Year. However, this Lunar New Year, the elderly couple is quietly preparing the ancestral rites table and spending the morning alone.

The elderly couple wanted to see the playful antics of their grandchildren, whom they love dearly, but they could not ignore the atmosphere of refraining from returning home during the holiday to prevent the spread of COVID-19, so they had already asked their sons and daughters not to come to their hometown.

Mr. Seo Ban-jong said, “There has never been a Lunar New Year like this in over 80 years,” and added, “Although I cannot see my children because of COVID-19, it’s okay. I hope COVID ends soon so I can comfortably see my children’s faces.”

He also said, “For parents, the greatest filial piety is for children living far away to receive many blessings in the new year and always stay healthy,” and added, “I hope the whole family can gather this Chuseok.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.