The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) marked Christmas by tracking Santa Claus' real-time location and releasing his route around the world, including a stop in Seoul.
NORAD said at about 11:27 p.m. on the 24th via its official social media that Santa had arrived in Seoul and was spreading the holiday spirit. Based on radar signal analysis, Santa left the North Pole that afternoon, passed through Russia and Japan, entered the skies over Jeju, then flew over major landmarks including Namsan Tower in Seoul, Lotte World Tower, and Gyeongbokgung after passing Busan and Daejeon.
The released virtual 3D video showed a sleigh loaded with gift sacks weaving through downtown Seoul with Rudolph in the lead. After touring the Seoul area, Santa crossed the Demilitarized Zone, passed Pyongyang, and continued on toward China. NORAD said it provides this real-time location information by detecting the infrared signal emitted from Rudolph's red nose via its satellite system.
The NORAD Santa-tracking service, jointly operated by the U.S. and Canadian militaries, is a long-standing tradition in its 69th year. It began in 1955 when a department store in Colorado misprinted the Air Defense Command's number in an ad saying children could talk with Santa. Col. Harry Shoup, who fielded the flood of calls from children, used ingenuity to share Santa's location, a practice that continues to this day.
Born out of an accidental episode in the Cold War era, the service has become an annual event that gives hope to children around the world. NORAD noted that Santa usually arrives in each country between 9 p.m. and midnight on the 24th, but the exact time is unknown. It emphasized, however, that Santa visits only when children are fast asleep, preserving their sense of wonder.
Each year, NORAD adds to the meaning of Christmas by broadcasting Santa's route live worldwide using advanced military equipment. It added that this year as well, the command is operating radar and satellite networks to carry out its mission so Santa can safely complete the journey while countless children sleep.