All about Festivals in Seoul

Seoul is a city where traditional fairs and modern festivals blend seamlessly with high-rise buildings and palaces. The city has a range of festivals that take place along with a breathtaking night views. There is a festival held every month, so let's explore the ones that match your travel dates.

In Seoul, every year begins with the ringing of the New Year's Eve bell. People gather in front of Jonggak Station to countdown the moment when the new year begins, and from midnight on January 1st, they ring the bell a total of 33 times to welcome the new year. There are a total of 16 bell ringers, including 5 Seoul city council members and 11 citizen representatives. The citizen representatives are selected through recommendations received on the Seoul city website. Since the event takes place outdoors, let's make sure to bring scarves, gloves, earmuffs, hand warmers, and other items to keep ourselves warm.

· Date: January 1st · Location: In front of Bosingak Bell at Jonggak Station

Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year) is a major holiday in Korea where the whole family gathers to celebrate the new year together. It is a day to eat Tteokguk (a symbolic dish meaning "growing one year older") and spend time together. Throughout Seoul, there are places where you can enjoy traditional Korean games and make wishes for the new year, allowing you to experience the atmosphere of the Lunar New Year. Please note that the schedule may change every year, so make sure to check the homepage before visiting.

Lunar New Year is a representative holiday in Korea, and many businesses are closed during this time. Before visiting, make sure to check if they are closed for the holiday.

· Date: January 1st of the lunar calendar.

Lunar New Year's Full Moon is the day when the first full moon rises after Seollal. It is a day to wish for a smooth and prosperous year ahead. On this day, people send off bad luck and enjoy foods that symbolize health and abundance, as well as engage in various games and activities. At Namsangol, a representative game, bonfire festival is held to celebrate Lunar New Year's Full Moon. Take a moment to make a wish for a bountiful year as you watch the moon house burning.

· Date: January 15th in the lunar calendar · Location: Namsangol Hanok Village

Seoul Fashion Week is an event where you can see collections from Korean fashion designers. It is held annually in March and October, allowing fashion industry professionals and Korean celebrities to enjoy fashion shows together. Even if you don't watch the shows, it's fun to see the unique fashion styles of Korean fashion people in front of the venue.

· Date: March, October (approx. 7 days) · Location: DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza)

The Lotus Lantern Festival is a representative event of Korean Buddhism where lanterns are lit to ask for blessings from the Buddha. It has been designated as the 21st intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO in Korea and is currently held in the form of a lantern festival. In particular, the large-scale lantern parade adorned with various sculptures and lanterns provides a variety of attractions to enjoy. It is like a traditional festival rather than a religious ceremony, and visitors can participate by making their own lanterns and marching in the lantern procession.

The best place to witness the lantern procession is Jonggak Station. It is recommended to visit Jonggak Station to watch the procession and enjoy the nearby festival grounds.

· Date: Between April and May (before the Buddha's Birthday) · Location: Lotus Lantern Procession (from Dongdaemun to Jongno)

April, when spring arrives, is the time when cherry blossoms bloom in Seoul. While you can see cherry blossoms in various parts of downtown Seoul, there are certain places within Seoul that are particularly famous for cherry blossoms. At night, thanks to the lighting, you can enjoy a different atmosphere compared to during the day when you can see cherry blossoms.

· Date: Cherry blossom blooming season in April

The K-Royal Culture Festival is the largest cultural heritage festival in Korea held at the five grand palaces in Korea. Utilizing the representative cultural heritage and history of the Joseon Dynasty, the festival offers a variety of cultural and artistic programs including performances, exhibitions, experiences, and ceremonies, allowing visitors to experience the lifestyle of the Joseon Dynasty.

· Date: Early May, mid-October (approx. 7 days) · Location: Five grand palaces in Korea, Jongmyo Shrine, Sajikdan Altar · Fee: Free - 1,500 won (varies by palace)

When the weather gets warmer, various music festivals that can be enjoyed outdoors are held. Among them, I recommend the Seoul Jazz Festival and the World DJ Festival. Since you'll be enjoying the festival outdoors all day, it is essential to bring a mat and a sunshade to shield yourself from the hot sun.

· Pre-ticketing is essential.

Every year in June, the Dream Concert takes place, where you can enjoy performances by numerous K-pop singers in one place. Hosted by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korean Entertainment Producers Association, it is the largest K-pop concert where you can see rising stars and the most popular idols of the time.

· Date: Mid-June · Location: Please refer to the website · Fee: 20,000 won (as of 2022), pre-ticketing is required

Every month, there are big and small festivals held at the Hangang River. In July, various activities such as kayaking experience, movie screenings, and busking performances are held to enjoy the cool summer by the river. Festivals take place in all Hangang River parks in Seoul, but there are especially many events held in Yeouido and Banpo. Some programs require advance reservations, so please refer to the website for more details.

· Date: July to August (approx. 14 days) · Location: Hangang River Park

It is a festival where people gather on Yonsei-ro in Sinchon to have a water gun fight. You can enjoy the water gun fight by aiming at anyone in the pouring water and bubbles. You can beat the heat while having a water gun fight in the exciting DJing and various performances.

· Date: July (2 days) · Location: Yonsei-ro, Sinchon · Fee: Free (tickets required for some areas) · Required items: Water gun

Water Bomb is a participatory music festival where the audience and artists form teams to enjoy performances and water fights together. Various Korean musicians who are perfect for summer will be performing, so check out the lineup before purchasing tickets.

· Date: Between July and August · Location: Jamsil Sports Complex · Fee: 99,000 won (as of 2022), pre-ticketing is required

It is one of the top 10 rock festivals in the world where you can enjoy various bands' music. You can enjoy both Korean and international band music. The performances take place over three days, and if you purchase a three-day pass, you can also purchase a camping pass that allows camping within the venue.

· Date: August (3 days) · Location: Incheon Songdo Moonlight Festival Park · Fee: 80,000 won (as of 2022), pre-ticketing is required

It is a Korean-style night market where you can enjoy food truck cuisine at Hangang River Park. You can taste a variety of representative Korean street foods and trendy Korean snacks of the year. Next to the food trucks, there are booths selling various handmade products.

· Date: August to September (approx. one month) · Location: Banpo Hangang River Park

A large-scale fireworks festival that takes place in the heart of downtown Seoul with the Hangang River view. Every year, the festival features various themes and mesmerizing fireworks performances. As this event attracts a massive crowd, it is recommended to arrive early to secure a good spot.

· Date: Early October · Location: Yeouido Hangang Park

When Halloween comes, Itaewon streets are filled with people in various costumes. Many foreigners residing in Seoul also come to Itaewon, where they can experience the best Halloween atmosphere in all of Seoul. People gather on the streets, admiring each other's costumes and taking pictures, enjoying Halloween together.

· Date: October the 31st · Location: Itaewon Street

This is Seoul's representative autumn festival where you can enjoy silver grass and pink muhly. Featuring small concerts centered around the grass and simple activities such as letter writing, this festival is a place where Seoul citizens can also enjoy a fall outing and truly experience the autumn atmosphere in Seoul.

· Date: Mid-October · Location: Haneul Park, World Cup Park · Fee: Free (Round-trip Maengkkongi (narrow mouthed toad) Train: 3,000 won) · Maengkkongi Train: A train ride to get to Haneul Park.

It is a festival where you can enjoy various light sculptures made of Hanji (traditional Korean paper). Along the Cheonggyecheon Stream, various themed Hanji lanterns are exhibited. At the festival, you can also enjoy hands-on activities such as making Hanji lanterns and dreamcatchers.

· Date: Between November and December (approx. 10 days) · Location: Cheonggyecheon Stream, Jongno-gu

I recommend places where you can feel the Christmas atmosphere in Seoul. Each location has its own unique Christmas tree. Especially at night, it is even more enjoyable to admire the trees sparkling with dazzling lights.

· Date: Throughout the month of December

Seoul Light, utilizing the DDP building with its organic shape, showcases various themed media art through the building's walls. Visitors can experience massive media art created by world-renowned media artists.

· Date: End of December · Location: DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza)