President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed hope for a happy and blessed Christmas in a message to the public posted on the eve on Sunday.
"It is a Christmas full of love from Jesus ... Today, there are many people around us who practice Jesus' love and grow the embers of hope," Yoon said in a Facebook post.
"The government and I will also try harder to make small embers burn with greater love. I hope all of you will enjoy the joy of a happy and blessed Christmas," Yoon said.