Recommended Year-End Events in Korea: Details on the Seoul Winter Festa

Seoul will host the "2024 Seoul Winter Festa," South Korea's largest winter festival, for 24 days from December 13, 2024 (Fri) to January 5, 2025 (Sun), spanning six locations: Gwanghwamun, Gwanghwamun Plaza, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Plaza, DDP, and Bosinjag.

Following its successful debut last year, attracting 7.4 million visitors, the "Seoul Winter Festa" consolidates various winter events previously scattered throughout Seoul into one mega-festival. Its main objective is to revitalize the Seoul city center and promote Seoul as a "global cultural hub" on the world stage.

The theme for the 2024 festival is "Seoul's Light of the Heart, Soul Prism (SOUL PRISM)." The core concept involves illuminating the six festival locations with Seoul's unique colors and lights. The festival will showcase diverse aspects of Seoul through light, from spectacular media art to light sculptures and charming lantern displays.

Let's explore the events, dates, and details of the "2024 Seoul Winter Festa," running from the end of 2024 to the beginning of 2025.

"2024 Seoul Winter Festa" Overview

1. Dates: December 13, 2024 (Fri) ~ January 5, 2025 (Sun)

2. Venues: Gwanghwamun, Gwanghwamun Plaza, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Plaza, DDP, and Bosinjag (6 locations)

"2024 Seoul Winter Festa" Event Details

1. Opening Ceremony

The "2024 Seoul Winter Festa" kicks off on December 13 (Fri) at 6 PM with simultaneous illuminations in the Gwanghwamun area (Seoul Light Gwanghwamun, Gwanghwamun Market) and the Cheonggyecheon area (Seoul Lantern Festival).

The opening ceremony will transform the restored "King's Road," Gwanghwamun Wolde, into an amphitheater, creating a celebratory kickoff for citizens and tourists alike. It will showcase Seoul's charm, connecting the past, present, and future, through performances encompassing diverse genres such as classical music and media art.

2. Seoul Light Gwanghwamun

① Location: Gwanghwamun

② Dates: Dec. 13, 2024 (Fri) ~ Jan. 5, 2025 (Sun)

③ Details

"Seoul Light Gwanghwamun," themed "Luminous Axis," is designed to express the concept of light filling the world, centered around Gwanghwamun. The media art installations feature numerous international artists, including Davide Hartogno (Italy) and David Wugono (France). This year, a dedicated "media art viewing area" is created for a more comfortable viewing experience.

3. Gwanghwamun Market

① Location: Gwanghwamun Plaza

② Dates: Dec. 13, 2024 (Fri) ~ Jan. 5, 2025 (Sun)

③ Details

Gwanghwamun Plaza will feature a 14-meter-tall Christmas tree as the centerpiece of the Christmas "Gwanghwamun Market," operating under a Santa Village theme. 141 small and medium-sized enterprises will participate in the market. A special exhibition of "<Squid Game> Season 2" will be held at Gwanghwamun Plaza during the festival, and a large-scale parade will take place on December 21 (Sat) along the 1km stretch from Seoul Plaza to Gwanghwamun.

4. Seoul Lantern Festival

① Location: Cheonggyecheon

② Dates: Dec. 13, 2024 (Fri) ~ Jan. 12, 2025 (Sun)

③ Details

Seoul's representative urban light festival, the "Seoul Lantern Festival," will be held along Cheonggyecheon under the theme "Soul Lantern." The exhibition will blend tradition and modern play, featuring over 240 exhibits ranging from traditional light sculptures to world-famous landmarks, transforming the Cheonggyecheon area into a winter wonderland.

5. Seoul Light DDP

① Location: DDP

② Dates: Dec. 19, 2024 (Thu) ~ Jan. 1, 2025 (Wed)

③ Details

"Seoul Light DDP," themed "5 Cheers!: Relay of Hopeful Encouragement," conveys messages of encouragement and hope to citizens as they conclude one year and welcome the new year. It will showcase an omnibus of five works by world-renowned artist Jean Jullien (France), and Korean artists Kim Seon-woo, Jo Gu-man, JE BAAK, and "Life Recording in Progress."

6. Seoul Con

① Location: DDP

② Dates: Dec. 28, 2024 (Sat) ~ Jan. 1, 2025 (Wed)

③ Details

Continuing its collaboration from last year, "Seoul Con" plays a crucial role in establishing the "Seoul Winter Festa" as a global event. Approximately 3,500 influencers from around the world will participate, promoting Seoul's attractions, including K-pop, K-beauty, and K-fashion, to the world.

Learn More about 2024 Seoul Con

7. Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink

① Location: Seoul Plaza

② Dates: Dec. 20, 2024 (Fri) ~ Jan. 9, 2025 (Sun)

③ Details

The "Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink," a beloved winter tradition for Seoul citizens, will operate under the theme "Seoul, the Approaching Winter." The rink's design will evoke the nostalgic atmosphere of the past, reminiscent of sledding and spinning tops on the Han River.

8. Bosingak Bell-Ringing Ceremony (New Year's Festival)

① Location: Bosingak

② Dates: Dec. 31, 2024 (Tue) ~ Jan. 1, 2025 (Wed)

③ Details

The 2025 New Year's countdown event is designed as a "citizen-participatory event." At the moment of the bell-ringing, a "Midnight Sun" with a diameter of 30 meters, more than twice the size of last year's, will rise behind Bosingak. Simultaneously, 15,000 citizens and tourists wearing wrist LED bands will create a spectacular Pixmob light show.

The Bosingak Bell-Ringing Ceremony will begin at 11:35 PM on December 31 (Tue). Citizen representatives selected through recommendations will participate in the 33 bell tolls. Applications for the bell-ringing citizens will be accepted until November 30.

A New Year's event is also planned at DDP, a popular countdown spot for the MZ generation. This event will feature an energetic countdown with lasers, lighting, sound effects, and a fireworks show illuminating the entire DDP.

For detailed information about the "2024 Seoul Winter Festa," please visit the official website. Promotional videos and posters will be released starting November 21 on SNS and other platforms.

Visit the 2024 Seoul Winter Festa Website