A Green Christmas, unlike a White Christmas with falling snow, refers to a Christmas spent in an environment where snow does not fall or there is little accumulated snow on the ground. Recently, with growing interest in environmental protection, ‘green’ is also being used to mean ‘environment.’ Accordingly, on Green Christmas, as befits the meaning of the day, people practice environmentally conscious actions such as recycling Christmas supplies or using reusable dishes and containers instead of disposables. They also convey feelings toward neighbors they have not been able to reach out to until now. Let us take a look at what events were held and are being held during this December to mark Green Christmas.
Green Christmas: Thinking of Regional Co-Prosperity
Gangbuk-gu Christmas Market <Green Santa’s Gift Box>
Seoul Gangbuk-gu held the 2025 Gangbuk Christmas Market ‘Green Santa’s Gift Box’ from December 19 to 21 in the area around the Gangbuk-gu Office. This year’s event was the third edition of the Christmas Market, which has established itself as Gangbuk-gu’s representative winter commercial district festival, and was special in that it was the last winter event to be held at the current government building before the relocation to the new office. This market, filled with colorful experiences, featured a Christmas flea market, busking performances, and photo zones under the name ‘Green Santa’s Gift Box.’ Additionally, the ‘Green Santa’s Snack Warehouse’ on the sidewalk in front of the district office offered winter snacks, while the Sonyeosang Street was arranged as a local brand zone. Local artists also participated, with craft experience programs drawing direct participation from attendees.
[2025 Gangbuk Christmas Market ‘Green Santa’s Gift Box’ Ⓟ Munhwa Ilbo]
Gimpo Cultural Foundation <Our Family’s Green Christmas>
How about experiencing the value of sharing and exchange with family at Christmas?
The Gimpo Cultural Foundation held the family-friendly year-end event ‘Our Family’s Green Christmas!’ on December 20–21 at the Hanok Village in Gimpo Art Village. ‘Our Family’s Green Christmas’ carries the meaning of ‘a Christmas that the family draws together while thinking of the environment.’ The Hanok accommodation experience building, which was normally operated only for a fee, was specially opened and set up as a Christmas market and experience space.
The main programs included family experience activities such as making pop-up book cards and creating Christmas ornaments. Additionally, the ‘Toy Circulation Market,’ where neighbors shared toys and clothing, and the ‘Green Christmas Market’ featuring local artists allowed participants to experience the value of sharing with neighbors. A foundation official stated, “We will create a new year-end culture unique to Gimpo through an eco-friendly festival utilizing the Hanok space.”
[Our Family’s Green Christmas Ⓟ Gimpo Cultural Foundation]
Spending an Environmentally Conscious Christmas
KORA Circular Resource Promotion Center <Pubel Santa’s Green Christmas> Event
What if you could write a letter to Santa and receive an eco-friendly gift in reply?
The eco-friendly experience program ‘Pubel Santa’s Green Christmas’ was held every weekend from December 6 to 23 at the Circular Resource Promotion Center under the Korea Circular Resource Distribution Support Center (KORA). The event, themed around ‘Pubel Santa’s Eco Post Office,’ featured a special program in which visitors wrote letters with heartfelt sentiments and sent them. The experience was conducted in the form of completing a workbook stamp mission at the promotion center.
1) Explore various parts of the promotion center and collect all 5 stamps in the workbook.
2) Submit the fully stamped sheet, receive a postcard, and write a letter to Dr. Pubel.
3) Place the completed letter in the mailbox and receive a gift.
Participants, including child visitors, who sent their letters could receive a special ‘eco’ gift along with a reply personally written by Pubel Santa. A KORA official conveyed, “We hope you will not miss the special sentiment of a Green Christmas that both protects the environment and warms the heart.”
[Pubel Santa’s Green Christmas Ⓟ Environment Broadcasting]
Lexus <CONNECT TO 2025 GREEN CHRISTMAS>
There is an event where you can enjoy various programs themed around a Green Christmas in one space. It is Lexus Korea’s <CONNECT TO 2025 GREEN CHRISTMAS>, held from December 1 to December 31 at the multi-cultural space CONNECT TO. Programs are prepared through which you can experience Lexus’s philosophy of community contribution and the value of carbon neutrality. Suited to the eco-friendly concept, you can taste winter dessert menus including strawberry and matcha beverages made from Lexus Young Farmers’ produce. Additionally, a book donation campaign was held throughout December to deliver books to small libraries in the community. The book donation campaign is a representative participatory social contribution program of Toyota Korea, which has been donating to small libraries in communities in need since 2014. Last year, approximately 14,000 diverse books were collected and delivered to children in the community.
[CONNECT TO Green Christmas Ⓟ Lexus Korea]
How about thinking of the environment this Christmas season by experiencing the diverse events prepared for Green Christmas? Even without going out, there are ways to spend a Green Christmas at home. Anyone can easily spend a Green Christmas by keeping the environment in mind — whether by composing a vegetable-centered meal instead of meat, preparing just enough food to eat, or renting Christmas decorations. To all who put into practice a mindset of environmental consciousness even at Christmas, Merry Green Christmas!
by Editor N