Seoul Winter Lights, Christmas and New Year's Eve: What Runs When
From mid-December to early January, central Seoul turns into one connected night walk: lanterns along Cheonggyecheon Stream, a media-art show projected on the curved walls of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a Christmas market in Gwanghwamun Square, giant LED facades in Myeong-dong, and a midnight bell at Bosingak to ring in the new year. Almost all of it is free and outdoors.
This guide lists the dates and hours of the most recent season (winter 2025–26) as published by Seoul Metropolitan Government and the official tourism sites, explains when each year's schedule is usually announced, and covers the practical side: whether Christmas and New Year's Day are public holidays in Korea, what is open, and how cold it gets. The 2026–27 schedule had not been announced when this page was last checked; we will update it when it is.
The big picture: Seoul Winter Festa
Since the 2023–24 season, Seoul Metropolitan Government has grouped its year-end light events under one umbrella called Seoul Winter Festa. The 2025 edition ran from December 12, 2025 to January 18, 2026 and grouped seven light events around downtown venues including Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Uicheon Stream, Seoul Plaza, DDP, Bosingak Pavilion and City Hall (see the official list). Individual events inside the Festa have their own (sometimes longer) dates, listed below.
When is it announced? The city published the full 2024 programme on November 27, 2024, and the 2025 programme on December 4, 2025, roughly one to three weeks before opening night. If you are planning a December trip, expect the official schedule in late November or early December, not earlier.
| Event (2025–26 season) | Dates | Hours | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul Lantern Festival | Dec 12, 2025 – Jan 18, 2026 | 18:00–23:00 | Cheonggyecheon & Uicheon streams |
| Seoul Light Gwanghwamun | Dec 12, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 | see official site | Gwanghwamun (north side of the square) |
| Gwanghwamun Market | Dec 12 – Dec 31, 2025 | see official site | Gwanghwamun Square |
| Seoul Light DDP | Dec 18 – Dec 31, 2025 | 18:00–21:30 | DDP front plaza |
| Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink | Dec 19, 2025 – Feb 8, 2026 | Sun–Fri 10:00–21:30, Sat & holidays 10:00–23:00 | Seoul Plaza (City Hall) |
| New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing | Dec 31, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026 (midnight) | countdown to 00:00 | Bosingak Pavilion, Jongno |
The Lantern Festival and Seoul Light DDP were free. For Gwanghwamun Market and Seoul Light Gwanghwamun no admission fee is listed on the city's page; check the official site. The skating rink charged 1,000 won per hour including skate and helmet rental.
Seoul Lantern Festival (Cheonggyecheon)
The Lantern Festival is the longest-running piece of the season: the 2025 edition was the 17th since it started in 2009. Illuminated sculptures and media artworks are set along Cheonggyecheon Stream starting from Cheonggye Plaza, with a second section on Uicheon Stream in northern Seoul. The 2025 theme was "My Light, Our Dream, the Magic of Seoul", lights were on 18:00–23:00 daily, December 12, 2025 to January 18, 2026, and admission was free.
Getting there: City Hall Station (Lines 1/2, Exit 4) or Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5, Exit 5). The stream is below street level, so you walk down a ramp or stairs; the official site notes accessible pathways and wheelchair rental.
Seoul Light DDP (Dongdaemun)
Seoul Light DDP projects 3D-mapped media art onto the front of Dongdaemun Design Plaza. The winter 2025 edition ran December 18–31, 2025, 18:00–21:30, free of charge, and closed with a New Year countdown that ended at 00:30 on January 1. The city reported around 800,000 visitors during those 14 days and about 87,000 people at the countdown, so plan for a crowd on December 31.
If you miss the festival dates, DDP is not dark: the Seoul Design Foundation runs a permanent lighting programme called "Dream in Light", relaunched on January 9, 2026, with shows five times a day on the hour from 18:00 to 22:00, each about 25 minutes. Content is rotated, so check the DDP site for what is currently showing.
Gwanghwamun: market and light show
Gwanghwamun Square hosted a Christmas-style market from December 12 to 31, 2025, with Christmas-themed booths run by small business owners selling seasonal goods and snacks, plus photo zones and free hands-on programmes, while the north side of the square had a media facade and light installations ("Seoul Light Gwanghwamun") through January 4, 2026. The Winter Festa opening ceremony was held here on December 12, 19:00–20:00. Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) exits directly onto the square.
Myeong-dong: department store facades
The two department stores facing each other near Myeong-dong and Hoehyeon stations put on the best-known Christmas facades in the city, and they start much earlier than the city events:
- Shinsegae Main Store: a three-minute video titled "The Magical World Connecting Time" played on the LED screen covering the building exterior from November 7, 2025 to January 31, 2026, 17:00–midnight.
- Lotte Department Store Main Store: Christmas facade from October 31 to December 31, 2025, 17:30–23:00, themed "Sweet Holidays".
Both are viewed from the public street, so they are free. Elsewhere, The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido ran an indoor Christmas installation from November 1 to December 31, 2025, and the Lotte Town Christmas Market was held at the Lotte World Tower outdoor plaza in Jamsil from November 20, 2025 to January 4, 2026. In 2025 the two Myeong-dong facades opened on October 31 (Lotte) and November 7 (Shinsegae).
New Year's Eve: the Bosingak bell
Seoul's best-known public countdown centres on a bell rather than fireworks. At midnight on December 31, the bell at Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno is struck 33 times by a group of citizens chosen each year; for the 2026 ceremony, 11 citizens were selected through public nominations and a review committee. The ceremony is part of Seoul Winter Festa, with a countdown, media art and performances around the pavilion beforehand.
Practical notes from the official descriptions: it is outdoors, in late December, and draws a large crowd on Jongno street. Arrive early if you want to see the bell itself (Jonggak Station, Line 1), dress for several hours of standing in the cold, and check the Seoul Metropolitan Government notice for that year's road-closure and subway arrangements before you go.
Is Christmas a holiday in Korea?
Yes. December 25 (Christmas Day) and January 1 (New Year's Day) are both official public holidays in Korea; in 2026 Christmas falls on a Friday. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, on public holidays "offices and banks are closed but palaces, museums, department stores, and amusement facilities are open." In practice, Christmas in Korea is a single day off rather than a multi-day shutdown like the Lunar New Year (Seollal) or Chuseok.
What that means for a traveller:
- Banks and government offices are closed on December 25 and January 1. If you need an in-person banking errand, do it on a weekday beforehand.
- Department stores, shops, restaurants and attractions generally operate, but individual stores set their own holiday hours. Check the store's own notice for the day.
- Subway and buses run on public holidays; timetables for December 31 and the Bosingak area can change, so confirm with the city notice that year.
- Note that January 1 is the solar New Year's Day. The bigger family holiday, Seollal, follows the lunar calendar and in 2026 falls on February 16–18, when far more businesses close. See /guide/first-week-in-korea for general opening-hours notes.
Cold-weather reality check
Every event in this guide is outdoors, after dark, in late December and early January, the coldest stretch of Seoul's year. A stream walkway and a riverside plaza feel colder than the street, and the DDP show and Bosingak countdown involve standing still for a long time. Layers, a hat, gloves and insulated shoes make the difference between a memorable night and a cut-short one. For temperatures, heated goods such as hand warmers, and what to pack, see /guide/korea-winter-survival and /guide/seasons-and-packing.
Suggested evening route
- Around 17:00: Myeong-dong, to catch the Shinsegae and Lotte facades as they switch on.
- 18:00–19:30: walk north to Cheonggye Plaza and do the Cheonggyecheon lantern walk (lights on from 18:00).
- 19:30–21:00: Gwanghwamun Square market and the light show at the north end (during the Festa dates).
- Optional: subway or taxi to DDP for the last media-art shows (Seoul Light ended at 21:30; Dream in Light runs until about 22:25).
On December 31, swap the last stop for Bosingak and arrive well before midnight.
Schedule for 2026–27
As of our last check, Seoul had not published the 2026–27 Winter Festa dates. Based on the past two seasons, the city programme has opened on the second Friday of December and the announcement has come in late November or early December; in 2025 the Myeong-dong department store facades opened on October 31 and November 7. We will update the table above as soon as official dates are released. Until then, treat the dates here as last year's pattern, not a promise.
FAQ
Q. When does the Seoul Lantern Festival take place?
The 2025 edition ran from December 12, 2025 to January 18, 2026, 18:00–23:00, along Cheonggyecheon and Uicheon streams, with free admission. The 2026 dates had not been announced at our last check; Seoul usually publishes the winter schedule in late November or early December.
Q. Are the winter light shows in Seoul free?
Mostly. The Seoul Lantern Festival and Seoul Light DDP were free in the 2025–26 season, and the Myeong-dong department store facades are viewed from the public street. For the Gwanghwamun market and light show no admission fee is listed on the city's page; check the official site. The Seoul Plaza ice rink charged 1,000 won per hour including skate and helmet rental.
Q. Is Christmas Day a public holiday in Korea?
Yes. December 25 and January 1 are both official public holidays. Offices and banks close, while department stores, museums, palaces and attractions generally stay open, though each business sets its own hours.
Q. What happens at Bosingak on New Year's Eve?
At midnight on December 31 the bell at Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno is struck 33 times by citizens selected for that year. A countdown, media art and performances take place around the pavilion beforehand. It is outdoors and crowded, so arrive early and dress warmly.
Q. Can I see the DDP light show if I miss the festival dates?
Seoul Light DDP itself ran December 18–31, 2025, but DDP has a permanent programme called Dream in Light, relaunched in January 2026, with shows on the hour from 18:00 to 22:00, each about 25 minutes. Check the DDP site for current content.
Q. How cold is Seoul during the light festivals?
Late December and early January are the coldest weeks of the year in Seoul, and every event here is outdoors after dark. See our winter survival guide for temperatures and what to wear.
Sources
- Seoul Metropolitan Government – 2025 Seoul Winter Festa (event list, dates, venues) — checked 2026-08-23
- Seoul Metropolitan Government – Seoul Winter Festa 2024 announcement (Nov 27, 2024) — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul – 2025 Seoul Lantern Festival — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul – Seoul Light DDP 2025 Winter — checked 2026-08-23
- Seoul Metropolitan Government – Seoul Light DDP attracts 1.92 million visitors in 2025; Dream in Light programme — checked 2026-08-23
- Seoul Metropolitan Government – Eleven citizens selected for New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony — checked 2026-08-23
- Visit Seoul – 2025-2026 Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink — checked 2026-08-23
- Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea) – Public Holidays — checked 2026-08-23
- Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea) – Merry Early Christmas at Korea's Department Stores (Shinsegae, Lotte, The Hyundai Seoul dates) — checked 2026-08-23
- Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea) – Korea's 2025–2026 Winter Festivals — checked 2026-08-23
Written and maintained by OPDADA · Last checked 2026-08-23 · Spotted an error? Let us know. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules, prices and schedules change — confirm with the official source before you act.