A "doorstep dol" program brings traditional first-birthday celebrations — complete with hanbok and ceremonial table settings — to multicultural families in Sinan-gun.
Sinan-gun held its "2026 Multicultural Family Doorstep Dol Celebration" at the Sinan-gun Family Center on Friday, marking the first birthdays of children from multicultural families and wishing them good health and a happy future.
The event was organized in partnership with the Korea Heritage Promotion Service to give multicultural families — who have relatively fewer opportunities to experience Korean culture — a chance to take part in the country's traditional first-birthday customs. Two Vietnamese multicultural families residing in Sinan-gun with infants between 10 and 18 months old were selected to participate.
The celebration featured a traditional dol table, hanbok dress-up and commemorative photos, with the entire program supported by the Korea Heritage Promotion Service. Family members and guests gathered to mark each child's first birthday together, sharing a meaningful occasion.
The doljabi ceremony — in which a child reaches for objects said to foretell the future — drew warm cheers and laughter as attendees wished the children health and happiness. Parents said they were grateful to have created a lasting memory for their child's first birthday.
One woman who attended as a marriage immigrant said she had felt at a loss about how to prepare a first-birthday celebration after coming to Korea. "I was so happy to be able to experience a traditional dol celebration like this," she said. "It became a precious gift that the whole family will remember for the rest of our lives."
An official from the Korea Heritage Promotion Service said cultural heritage is a valuable asset that all people should be able to enjoy together. "We hope this doorstep dol celebration gave multicultural families a meaningful opportunity to experience the value and significance of Korea's traditional culture," the official said. "We will continue to expand access to cultural experiences for communities and groups with relatively limited cultural opportunities."
A Sinan-gun official said the event was a meaningful occasion for the local community to come together and celebrate a child's first birthday. "We hope this doorstep dol celebration helped multicultural families feel the warmth and support of their neighbors, and that it serves as a stepping stone toward settling in comfortably," the official said.
Meanwhile, the Sinan-gun Family Center continues to run a range of programs to help multicultural families settle in and strengthen family bonds, including family relationship education, cultural experiences and peer support groups.
kkm9971@heraldcorp.com
