SEOUL: The Lunar New Year period is one of the main holidays in South Korea, when people return to their hometowns to spend time with their families. Many Koreans dress in their traditional costumes – and do lots of bowing – to their ancestors and elders.

That is why a group of foreign residents living in South Korea want to make sure they know how to perform these traditional customs properly. All dressed in brightly coloured, traditional Korean costumes – called hanbok – these women and children are learning how to bow – the traditional way.

It is a practice that all Koreans perform during the Lunar New Year holidays – so it is crucial to get it right. And it is something these non-Korean women are expected to do, since they're married to Korean men.

There are slightly more than 1.7 million foreign residents in South Korea, accounting for some three per cent of the total population. Koreans usually bow in two instances during the Lunar New Year - the first out of respect to their elders, – and in return, children receive envelopes containing cash. The other during food-offering ceremonies to ancestors, in the hope of receiving good fortune for the New Year.

"This is fun with all the other friends from multicultural families. I like this event playing games and wearing a hanbok in time for the Lunar New Year,” said a participant who was wearing a hanbok.

"This is so nice. It’s a great experience and it’s really nice,” said a Thai national. “In Thailand, we usually just meet people and get together with family. We make food and talk with our parents. But I’m really grateful to be able to take part in events like this here."

Among this group, there was one guy who stood out in his Korean hanbok. "Actually, I was alone at home,” said Brajal verma, who lives in Seoul. “My family's back in India. So it's been very good experience here. Many families. People are very nice. Very friendly."

And it is Mr Verma’s first time wearing the Korean costume. "Feels like I’m a little bigger than I actually am,” he said. “Because there are a lot of layers, so it feels a little big. It’s not heavy. But it feels big. And when I saw people wearing a hanbok, I thought it would be not so comfortable – but now after wearing it, I feel it’s comfortable."

A monk from the International Seon Center, a Korean Buddhist temple, said such events are important to residents. "At home, they just get to spend time with their family but through events like this they get to meet others from their hometown,” said Chungjo. “It becomes a place where they can meet someone from their hometowns. And so then they come here, they say they get a warm feeling as if they were back home."

A warm feeling that is much needed during times like the Lunar New Year holidays – when people living away from families can get homesick.