The Korean name for the decorative silk pouch often given to children at Seollal is bokjumeoni.
A bokjumeoni is a small traditional pouch associated with good fortune. Its name combines bok, meaning “fortune” or “blessing,” with jumeoni, a pouch or purse. At Seollal, Korea’s lunisolar New Year, children may receive money from elders after performing sebae, the formal New Year’s bow. The money can be placed in a decorated pouch, although modern gifts are also commonly handed over in envelopes.
Bokjumeoni is easy to confuse with other Seollal customs. Yutnori is a traditional stick-and-board game, norigae is a decorative pendant worn with traditional clothing, and hanbok is Korean traditional dress. None of those terms names the pouch itself.
Seollal is centered on family visits, respect for elders, ancestral observances, special foods, and hopes for prosperity in the new year. The pouch therefore functions as more than a container: its design and name connect the gift to wishes for happiness and good fortune.