On January 3, a total lunar eclipse will take place during the Full Moon of January, marking the first occurrence of such an event in South Korea in 36 years since 1990. This significant astronomical phenomenon will be visible to approximately 3 billion people across vast regions including Asia, the Americas, and Australia. In East Asia and Australia, viewers will witness the event in the evening, while those in the Pacific will see it throughout the night, and it will be observed in the early morning in the Americas. However, parts of Central Asia and most of South America will only view a partial eclipse, while Africa and Europe will not observe any lunar eclipse at all.

The weather in South Korea is forecasted to permit optimal viewing conditions, with the Korea Meteorological Administration predicting that rain or snow will clear by the afternoon on January 3. The eclipse will begin at 6:49:48 PM with a partial shadowing of the moon, and by 8:04 PM, the moon will be fully immersed in Earth's shadow, transitioning to a faint red hue for approximately one hour. The redness of the moon during a total lunar eclipse is due to the scattering of shorter blue wavelengths of sunlight by Earth's atmosphere, allowing only the longer red wavelengths to illuminate the surface of the moon.

The peak of the total eclipse will happen at 8:33 PM when the moon will be positioned about 24 degrees in the eastern sky. By 10:17 PM, the moon will have completely exited Earth's primary shadow. The total duration of the eclipse, including the partial phases, will last 5 hours and 38 minutes. The next total lunar eclipse in South Korea is projected for December 31, 2028, with a partial lunar eclipse preceding it on July 7, 2028. In celebration of the eclipse coinciding with the Full Moon, various science centers across the nation, including the National Gwacheon Science Museum, are planning special viewing events on the evening of January 3.