The Korean Spring Festival (also known as "Old New Year" or Lunar New Year) is one of the most important traditional festivals in the country, usually lasting for three days - including New Year's Eve, the first day of the lunar new year, and the second day. During this period, many local Koreans will return to their hometowns to reunite with their families, participate in ancestral worship ceremonies (tea rituals), wear Hanbok, perform New Year's greetings, and eat Tteokguk (year cake soup), among other traditional customs. As a result, the overall social pace slows down significantly during the festival, and commercial activities are also significantly affected. 
Specifically regarding the business situation of stores: Large chain supermarkets (such as Emart, Lotte Mart, Homeplus) and some 24-hour convenience stores (such as CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) usually remain open as usual, but their operating hours may be shortened, for example, closing earlier at 10 p.m.; some stores even suspend operations on the afternoon of New Year's Eve or throughout the first day of the new year. Small and medium-sized independent shops, traditional market stalls, beauty salons, clinics, and non-essential service venues generally close during the period from New Year's Eve to the second day of the new year; a few may extend the closure to the third day. Although public transportation maintains basic operation, the number of services has decreased, especially for long-distance buses and high-speed rail (KTX) tickets, which need to be booked several weeks in advance. Popular routes often have tickets in short supply. 
If you plan to travel to or live in South Korea during the Spring Festival, it is recommended that you make the following preparations in advance: First, check the specific business hours of the stores on the official websites or apps of the shopping malls; second, stock up on necessary food, daily necessities and medicines to avoid shortages during the festival; third, if you need to handle banking transactions, send/receive packages or complete government-related procedures, be aware that banks, post offices and public institutions usually close their services on the last working day before the festival and gradually resume normal operations from the third or fourth day. In addition, some duty-free stores and restaurants in tourist-dense areas such as Myeongdong, Hongdae and Dongdaemun in Seoul will still be open, but it is recommended to call in advance to confirm before departure to avoid disappointment. 
Overall, the Korean Spring Festival is not a nationwide mandatory holiday but rather a flexible holiday schedule guided by local customs. It has a strong traditional atmosphere while also taking into account the practical needs of modern urban life. By properly planning your itinerary and consumption rhythm, you can easily handle the commercial changes during the festival period.