by A music-loving boy in Seoul asks if Santa was a real person, what causes the seasons, and why we respect elders
A Letter to Santa from Seoul, South Korea
Dear Santa,
Annyeong Santa! My name is Min-jun and I am 9 years old. I live in Seoul, in South Korea, a city of bright lights and tall towers. I love reading comics and playing the gayageum, a Korean string instrument. My question is: is Santa Claus a real person? Did a real Santa ever live? My geography question is: what causes the four seasons? And my social studies question is: why do many cultures teach children to respect their elders? Gamsahamnida, Santa!
Love, Min-jun (age 9)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, annyeong Min-jun! A boy who plays the gayageum has wonderful taste. Now here is a fact that may surprise you: yes, a real person truly did start it all. About 1,700 years ago, there really lived a kind and generous man named Saint Nicholas, who quietly gave gifts to people who needed help. He was as real as you or me. Over the many centuries that followed, the memory of that good man grew into the cheerful legend you know today. So the honest answer is that a real person began the story, and his kindness lives on in me.
Your geography question: what causes the four seasons
The four seasons happen because the Earth is tilted as it travels around the Sun. When your part of the world leans toward the Sun, you get warm summer days. When it leans away, you get chilly winter. Your own South Korea enjoys four clear seasons, each with its own beauty. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: respecting elders
Many cultures teach children to respect their elders because older people carry years of wisdom, stories, and experience. In your own South Korea, showing respect to elders is a deeply important value, taught from a young age. Honoring those who came before us keeps families close and helps knowledge pass down through the generations. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Play a tune on your gayageum for me, Min-jun. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
