That's not quite the case this year.
Our Han Seong-woo is outside the Myeongdong Cathedral, symbolic of Christmas in South Korea.
Seong-woo, things look much subdued for Christmas Eve.
There's still a few hours left but Merry Christmas Conn-young
Myeongdong is usually packed on Christmas Eve, with people visiting the 122 year-old Myeongdong Cathedral behind me.
But this year, there are few tourists or shoppers to be seen.
And since evening mass will be conducted online, not too many worshippers are here either.
"I had always thought the end of the year to be a time of people gathering and spending time together but since that isn't the case this year, this winter feels a bit chillier than usual."