"Lunar New Year Called Chinese New Year Again"... Seogyeongdeok Furious Over UN Stamp

Lunar New Year, a Holiday Celebrated by Various Asian Countries
It Must Be Labeled as 'Lunar New Year,' Not 'Chinese New Year'

The United Nations (UN) has once again featured 'Chinese New Year' on its official stamp issued to mark the 'Lunar New Year'.

Professor Seo Kyung-deok of Sungshin Women's University criticized this on social media (SNS) on the 24th, sharing the UN stamp and calling it "an act that disregards Asian cultures."

Stamp issued by the UN. Professor Seokyeongdeok SNS

The stamp shared by Professor Seo features a design symbolizing a snake along with the UN logo. However, it is labeled as "CHINESE LUNAR CALENDAR".

At the 78th UN General Assembly held in December 2023, a resolution was unanimously adopted to designate Lunar New Year as a "floating holiday," making it the eighth optional holiday that UN staff worldwide can observe throughout the year.

Professor Seo emphasized, "If the international organization UN has declared Lunar New Year as an optional holiday, it is appropriate for the official stamp to be labeled 'Lunar New Year' rather than 'Chinese New Year'." She added, "Lunar New Year is not a holiday exclusive to China but is celebrated by various Asian countries including Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines." She further stated, "In the future, it must be labeled as 'Lunar New Year'."