Korean New Year Bell

The city government said a pre recorded ringing of the bell would be streamed this new year s eve.

Korean new year bell. It was used as a fire alarm as well. A traditional new year bell ring ceremony will be cancelled in the south korean capital of seoul as the country has faced yet another spike in covid 19 cases a municipal government official said. It was also rung on september 11 2002 to commemorate the first anniversary of the september 11 2001 terrorist attacks.

Beginning in 2010 the bell has been ceremonially struck five times a year. The bell was struck to announce the opening and closing of the four gates around seoul. The bell ringing ceremony was televised on all major channels seoul s equivalent of dropping the ball at midnight in new york s times square.

On december 6 the south korean government cancelled the new year bell ring ceremony held every year in the capital seoul due to an alarming surge in covid 19 cases a municipal government official confirmed. At 4 am and 10 pm the bell was struck 33 times and gates were opened and closed. The bosingak bell dates to the joseon dynasty 1392 1910 when it was used to toll the hours in seoul.

Considering the rapid spread of covid 19 we have to cancel the year end bell ringing. In modern times the bell is rung only at midnight on new year s eve.