Christmas in Seoul does not feel like Christmas back home. In Korea it is a public holiday, but it is mostly a couples’ and friends’ night out. The city really shows off with giant light shows, department store facades and a big countdown on New Year’s Eve.
I’m Woogie, and I’ve lived in the Seoul area my whole life (I’m from Suwon, about an hour south). This guide covers Christmas in Seoul and New Year’s Eve in Seoul for 2026–27. I wrote it on November 6, 2026, and several event schedules are still not final. I’ve marked every date that you should check on the official site before you book anything.
Table of Contents
- Quick Answer: Christmas in Seoul and New Year’s Eve at a Glance
- Christmas in Seoul: Where to See the Lights
- Seoul Winter Festa 2026–27: What’s Confirmed and What Isn’t
- New Year’s Eve in Seoul: Bosingak, Gwanghwamun, DDP and More
- Christmas Weekend (Dec 25–27): What’s Open and How Crowded It Gets
- New Year Holiday (Jan 1–3): Closures, Crowds and Quiet Spots
- Getting Around on Christmas and New Year’s Eve
- FAQ
- Final Thoughts
Quick Answer: Christmas in Seoul and New Year’s Eve at a Glance
Here is the short version. “Official check” means the date comes from a city listing that could still change.
| Event | 2026–27 status | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul Light Gwanghwamun (media facade show) | Listed Dec 11 – Jan 3, 5:30–10 pm. Check the official site | Gwanghwamun Square |
| SEOULCON (creator expo, New Year programs) | Listed Dec 29 – Jan 1. Check the official site | DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) |
| Seoul Lantern Festival | Not confirmed. The city portal only says “December (planned)” | Cheonggyecheon Stream |
| Gwanghwamun Market (Christmas market) | Not confirmed | Gwanghwamun Square |
| Bosingak New Year’s Eve bell ringing | Held every Dec 31. 2026 program not announced yet | Bosingak, Jongno |
| Christmas weekend | Fri Dec 25 – Sun Dec 27 | Citywide |
| New Year holiday | Fri Jan 1 – Sun Jan 3 | Citywide |
Seoul bundles most of its winter events under the name Seoul Winter Festa. Late-year announcements have shifted before, so I’ll keep telling you what is confirmed and what isn’t.
Christmas in Seoul: Where to See the Lights
Most Christmas lights are in three clusters: Myeongdong, Jamsil and the Gwanghwamun area. You can see each one in a single evening.
Myeongdong: Department Store Light Shows
Myeongdong is where I’d send a first-timer. The big department stores (Lotte, Shinsegae and Lotte Avenuel) decorate their buildings from early winter. In recent years the Shinsegae main store has used its stone facade as a giant media screen after dark.
Lotte’s Myeongdong main store was reported lit up as early as late October this year. Exact show times and themes change every season, so check each store’s own announcement closer to the date.
Myeongdong Cathedral is a short walk away and puts up its own Christmas decorations. If you like the quiet side of the holiday, this spot is better than the shopping street.
Local tip: Go on a weeknight before December 24 if you can. Myeongdong on Christmas Eve is packed with couples and tourists, and getting a photo without a crowd is nearly impossible.
My pick: Honestly, Seoul is crowded and pretty pretty much everywhere during the Christmas season, but personally I like Cheonggyecheon (the stream running through downtown Seoul) and Myeongdong best.
Jamsil: Lotte World Tower and Lotte World Mall
Lotte Town in Jamsil holds the biggest Christmas market in Seoul, with a large tree and a carousel on the lawn behind Lotte World Mall. Last year it ran from November 20 to January 4. Admission was charged after 4 pm, based on a travel roundup I read. The 2026 schedule had not been announced when I checked, so look at Lotte’s official channels.
If it is freezing, Lotte World Adventure (the indoor-outdoor theme park next door) has its own winter season. Lotte World Tower’s observatory has also extended its hours on December 31 in past years. More on that below.
Gwanghwamun and Cheonggyecheon
This is the free, central, easy-to-reach part of Christmas in Seoul. The events here are what I describe in the next section.
Seoul Winter Festa 2026–27: What’s Confirmed and What Isn’t
Here is the honest status of each event. I’d rather tell you what I don’t know than give you a date that gets you to the plaza on the wrong night.
Seoul Light Gwanghwamun (dates listed, check official site)
Seoul Light Gwanghwamun is a free media art show projected onto Gwanghwamun Gate and the area around it. The city’s festival portal (FUN SEOUL) lists December 11, 2026 to January 3, 2027, from 5:30 pm to 10 pm. The program includes a media facade show, citizen participation programs and a New Year countdown event.
Last year it ran Sunday to Thursday until 9:30 pm and until 10 pm on Friday and Saturday. Hours may be adjusted again, so check the FUN SEOUL listing before you go.
Some other listings give a later end date (January 10). That’s why I call January 3 the earliest closing date, not a guaranteed one.
Seoul Lantern Festival (not confirmed)
The Seoul Lantern Festival normally lights up Cheonggyecheon Stream with lanterns and light art. For 2026, the city portal only lists it as “December (planned).” I found unofficial pages that give start dates anywhere from December 4 to December 11, and end dates from early January to January 31.
My advice: don’t plan a fixed night around the lanterns yet. Last year the festival was extended after it drew large crowds, so the final dates could shift again. Keep your Cheonggyecheon evening flexible.
Gwanghwamun Market (not confirmed)
Gwanghwamun Market is the Christmas-village market on the square, with food stalls and a carousel in recent years. Last year it ran from December 12 to December 31, from 5:30 pm, and stayed open later on New Year’s Eve. The 2026 dates have not been confirmed, and I’ve seen unofficial sources suggesting a longer run. Wait for the official announcement before you count on it.
Seoul Plaza Ice Rink
The rink in front of City Hall is another budget-friendly Christmas activity. Last winter it ran from December 19 to early February, at 1,000 won (~US$0.70) per one-hour session with skates and a helmet included. I couldn’t find 2026–27 details yet.
If you’d like a lights trip outside the city center, I put together a guide to winter light festivals near Seoul with Gyeonggi day-trip options.
New Year’s Eve in Seoul: Bosingak, Gwanghwamun, DDP and More
December 31, 2026 is a Thursday, which makes it easy to build an evening around. Here are the main choices for New Year’s Eve in Seoul.
Bosingak Bell-Ringing Ceremony (the traditional one)
This is the oldest New Year’s Eve tradition in the city. At midnight the bell at Bosingak in Jongno is struck 33 times, and it is free and open to anyone.
Last year’s event ran from 11 pm to 12:20 am, with a performance before midnight and a band set afterward. About 2,500 safety staff were deployed, and traffic around Bosingak was controlled from 6 pm on December 31 until 7 am the next morning. Crowds can reach tens of thousands, and the Jongno area was expecting up to around 100,000 people last year.
The 2026 program had not been announced yet. The format is likely to be similar, but I wouldn’t promise anything until the city publishes it.
Local tip: Get to Jongno by 9 pm if you want to be near the front. After that, streets around the pavilion get blocked, you can’t move easily, and bathrooms are hard to find. Dress for sub-zero weather. I wrote about what to wear in my Korea in winter guide.
I’ve never done the Bosingak countdown myself, because I just don’t have the confidence to deal with that many people. I usually spend New Year’s at home with my family, or with my girlfriend.
Gwanghwamun Square
The Seoul Light Gwanghwamun listing includes a New Year countdown event. It is close to Bosingak (walkable if the streets are open), so some people do one early and the other at midnight. Details are not yet public.
DDP (SEOULCON)
SEOULCON is a big creator and influencer expo at DDP, listed for December 29 to January 1. The portal and the official SEOULCON site both show these dates. Past editions have mixed free areas with ticketed programs, so check the official SEOULCON site for admission before you plan to go. DDP’s own media-facade countdown has been a New Year’s Eve option in past years.
Jamsil and Myeongdong (private-company shows)
In past years Lotte World Tower has extended its observatory hours toward midnight and held fireworks. The Shinsegae Myeongdong store has also run a countdown with its media facade. None of the 2026 details are confirmed yet, so treat these as “likely, but check.”
If you can’t decide, my pick is this: Bosingak for the tradition, a produced show if you want warmth and a view.
Christmas Weekend (Dec 25–27): What’s Open and How Crowded It Gets
Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, so most Koreans get a three-day weekend. Expect heavy crowds from the evening of December 24 through Sunday.
Usually open on December 25:
- Department stores, malls, most restaurants, cafes and bars
- Cinemas, theme parks, observation decks
- Subways and buses (on a holiday timetable)
- Convenience stores
- Most palaces (check each one, since weekly closing days still apply)
Usually closed or reduced on holidays:
- Banks and government offices
- Some small family restaurants and traditional market stalls
Local tip: Christmas Eve is the busiest dinner night, especially in Myeongdong, Gangnam and Itaewon. Book your restaurant a week ahead, or eat early (before 6 pm).
Another note on palaces: Gyeongbokgung normally closes on Tuesdays, and December 29 and January 5 are both Tuesdays. Check the palace’s own page before you plan.
My simple rule for the three days: do lights and food on Christmas Eve, a mall or theme park on December 25, and museums, a jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouse and sauna) or a long cafe stop on December 26–27.
New Year Holiday (Jan 1–3): Closures, Crowds and Quiet Spots
January 1 is also a public holiday in Korea, and 2027 gives you another Friday-to-Sunday stretch. A lot of locals travel or sleep in, so the city feels very different from the night before.
- January 1: Big malls and chain restaurants are open, but check smaller places. Many owners take the day off.
- Sunrise spots: Some Koreans go to the east coast (Gangneung and Jeongdongjin are popular). Trains and buses fill up weeks ahead, so don’t leave that until the last minute.
- January 2–3: Back to normal for most shops, but weekend crowds at popular spots stay high.
Local tip: The day after the countdown is a good time for the places that are a mess at night, like Bukchon, the palaces or N Seoul Tower. Mornings are quiet, and if it snows it looks great.
Getting Around on Christmas and New Year’s Eve
Public transport is the best way to move on these nights. Taxis are very hard to get after the event ends, and surge-style delays are common.
- Subway: Last year, service on New Year’s Eve was extended until around 2 am, based on a roundup I read. I haven’t seen the 2026 notice yet, so look at Seoul Metro’s announcements in the last week of December.
- Stations near events: In past years, exits and stops closest to the biggest crowds have sometimes been closed. Have a backup station one or two stops away.
- Buses: Roads around Bosingak are controlled for hours, so buses are rerouted.
- Holiday timetable: On December 25 and January 1 the subway and buses run on a holiday schedule, which means fewer trains than a weekday.
I covered passes, T-money and what really saves money in my Korea transportation pass guide. Read it before you buy anything, because a pass doesn’t make sense for every trip.
FAQ
Is Seoul open on Christmas Day?
Mostly yes. Malls, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, theme parks and public transport run (the latter on a holiday timetable). Banks and government offices are closed. Check palaces and small restaurants individually.
Where can I watch the New Year’s countdown in Seoul?
The free, traditional choice is the Bosingak bell ringing in Jongno. Other options listed or used in the past include Gwanghwamun Square, DDP, Lotte World Tower and Myeongdong. Details for 2026 are still being announced, so check the official sites.
Is Seoul Light Gwanghwamun free?
The 2025 edition was free. The 2026 edition is listed from December 11 to January 3 on the city’s festival portal, but double-check admission and hours on the official page before you go.
Does the subway run late on New Year’s Eve?
In 2025 it was extended until about 2 am. The 2026 plan hadn’t been published when I wrote this, so check Seoul Metro’s notice in late December.
Final Thoughts
That’s my take on Christmas in Seoul and New Year’s Eve in Seoul for 2026–27. My advice is simple: pick one or two big things (the Gwanghwamun lights and one countdown), leave room for the events whose dates aren’t final, and book dinner early. The official Seoul Winter Festa site is where the city usually posts updates, so check it again in early December.
Have questions about your own plan? Send me a message on the Contact page, or read more about me and the blog.
Enjoy Korea!
— Woogie
Photo credits: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) · Nat4Eben / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Shene81 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) · Steve46814 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Ken Eckert / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service Jeon Han / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Mobius6 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
