South Koreans have spent the lunar New Year's Day with families and relatives.

In the morning, people dressed in traditional costumes gathered at the eldest son's house and conducted a solemn memorial service in honor of deceased ancestors. They also paid respects to their elders with big bows and exchanged New Year greetings wishing for happiness and good luck throughout the year.

In the afternoon, roads leading to cemeteries were clogged with vehicles of people visiting their ancestors' tombs.

In downtown Seoul, there was no usual traffic congestion with hundreds of thousands of passenger cars out in other provinces for holidays.

Thursday is the last day of the three-day holiday period, but highways and byways have started to flood with vehicles already heading back to Seoul.