Visiting Seoul in December? From seasonal Seoul Christmas events to the illuminating Seoul Lantern Festival, there is lots to do and epic events to enjoy in December 2025 in Seoul.
Best of all, spend the New Year in Seoul with an awesome Seoul New Year’s Eve firework display on 31 December or at a traditional temple bell-ringing ceremony.
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December is a great time to visit South Korea and Seoul at Christmas – the iconic Seoul Plaza / City Hall ice-rink opens up (an annual favourite with local families), Gwanghwamun Christmas Market pops ups and the Winter Lights at the Garden of Morning Calm shine bright.
Other Seoul December 2025 events include the K-Pop Demon Hunters December pop-up in Seongsu-dong and the Seoul Winter Festival across the city.
Seoul concerts in December include G-Dragon, Doja Cat, Godspeed You! Black Emperor plus the K-Pop / Melon Music Awards.
Other South Korea festivals in December 2025 include the Busan Christmas Tree festival and the Sanjeong Lake Sledding Festival.
Here is our pick of the best Seoul and South Korea events in December 2025.
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All set for South Korea? Do one final check with our Seoul first timers guide and our South Korea packing list
South Korea Public holidays in December 2025
25 December (Christmas Day) is a South Korea public holiday but many restaurants and large businesses / Seoul shopping malls remain open so families and couples can enjoy them or go shopping.
If you are in Korea for the Seoul New Year’s Eve 2025 fireworks, please note 1 January 2026 is also a public holiday – enjoy!
You might like – 50 best things to do in South Korea >
Seoul December 2025 festivals and events
Seoul Christmas activities
By the start of December in Seoul, pretty much all of the Seoul Christmas lights, displays and markets begin from early November, particularly famous light displays like Shinsegae Myeongdong and The Hyundai Seoul Christmas Village which usually start the previous month.
We have been lucky enough to do several trips to Seoul in December, so have written a guide to over 30 Seoul Christmas markets, lights and displays (many of the Seoul 2025 Christmas dates don’t get confirmed until November).
Some of the best Seoul Christmas 2025 events opening in November / December will include:
Christmas tree and ice skating at Seoul Plaza 2025
Seoul city ice skating runs from Friday 19 December 2025 until Sunday 8 February 2026
Seoul Plaza and City Hall play host to a huge Christmas tree, skating rink and winter village every Christmas and 2025/26 is no exception.
The Seoul City Hall Christmas tree looks good at any time of day; colourful with bright baubles and red bows by daytime, and classic bright white when it lights up in the evening.
This is one of Seoul’s biggest Christmas ice-skating rinks, a continual family favourite since it opened in 2004.
The Seoul Plaza ice-skating rink opens from 10am to 9.30pm during the week and until 11pm on weekends. It is also really cheap, costing around 1,100 Won for one hour including skate rental.
You might like – 101 best things to do in Seoul >
K-Pop Demon Hunters Seoul Pop-up in Seongsu-dong
4 to 28 December 2025
For one month only, this official Netflix Seoul K-Pop Demon Hunters pop rocks up in Seongsu-dong. Seoul is the first stop before the pop-up goes on tour around the world (just like real K-Pop stars eh).
From 4 to 28 December an official pop-up store for K-Pop Demon Hunters licensed by Netflix will be one of the hottest tickets in town.
Open from 11am to 9pm on weekdays (and 10am on weekends), the location of the K-Pop Demon Hunters pop-up in Seongsu-dong can be seen here on Google maps >
Many details are still to be revealed for there will be 3 floors of immersive exhibits, stores and K-Pop Demon Hunter merchandise – zones include Rumi’s Room, a Soda Pop room, Your Idol and the Golden Stage.
Merchandise includes Derpy and Susshie plushes and souvenirs, K-Pop Demon Hunter bags, caps and T-Shirts plus photo-sets, magnets and Wappen (iron on K-Pop Demon Hunter Stickers). We’ve also seen a huge Soda Pop branded range that will be on sale here too!
Visit the official K-Pop Demon Hunters pop-up ticket site >
Seoul Lantern Festival at Cheong-gye-cheon stream / Seoul Winter Festa
12 December 2025 – 4 January 2026
Seoul’s annual Christmas lantern festival returns to Cheong-gye-cheon stream and Ui stream from 12 December – the 2025 Seoul Lantern festival theme is “My Light, Our Dream, the Magic of Seoul”.
Starting in 2009, the annual Seoul Lantern Festival has become one of the most well attended festivals in Seoul and is a firm family favourite at Christmas with over 200 lanterns of all shapes and sizes.
Seoul Christmas lantern festival 2025 at Cheong-gye-cheon stream runs from 12 December 2025 until 4 January 2026 between 6pm and 10pm daily and is free admission. Visit the official website here >
In parallel to the 2025 Seoul Lantern Festival, Seoul Winter Festa, encompasses the whole city taking place at venues like the DDP in Dongdaemun, Cheong-gye-cheon stream, Gwanghwamun, Bosingak Pavilion and more Seoul landmarks.
You might like – Our South Korea packing list and travel essentials guide >
Seoul Lotte World Adventure
Until 31 December 2025 (including a special New Year’s Eve Parade)
This year’s Seoul 2025 Lotte Adventure Christmas theme is still TBC. Last year, it was ‘Miracle Winter’ and a ‘Snoopy Christmas’, which brought the park to life with incredible displays of Christmas lights indoors and out, and various festive themed performances and shows.
We’ve been to Seoul Lotte World at Christmas and it is magical! The highlight has to be the magical Snow Castle, a beautiful snowy structure of fairytale proportions. Indoors, make a wish at the Miracle Tree and see Santa at home in his grotto (‘Santa Big Lotty’ – hmmmm).
Did you know Lotte World is also included as part of the Discover Seoul Pass?
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Shinsegae Department Store Christmas Display 2025 – until 31 January 2026
Shinsegae Department Store (one of the best malls in Seoul) must have a massive electricity bill at Christmas as the store exterior becomes a HUGE multimedia light show, having heavily invested in millions of LED lights (in 2023, they’ve used 3.75 million LEDs to bring the display to life).
More things to do in Myeongdong >
The Hyundai Seoul Mall – 2025 Christmas theme is Harry’s Christmas workshop
1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025
In one word, wow! Of all the Seoul shopping malls and complexes we visited for Christmas in Seoul, The Hyundai Seoul had the busiest and biggest Christmas display in Seoul we went to.
It is officially the largest indoor Christmas light display in Seoul and the whole of Korea, covering over 3,000 square meters and with around 20 Christmas stores.
P.S. The Hyundai Department Store Trade Centre, Gangnam also puts on a really good Seoul Christmas display – one Christmas when we visited, it had an outdoor Christmas Village packed full of animatronic bears and Santa’s helpers – so cool!
You might like – Our guide to the best Seoul shopping malls and districts including Seongsu-dong
Seoul New Year’s Eve Fireworks 2025 / Han River New Year’s Firework Cruises
31 December 2025 to 1 January 2026
Ring in the new year in Seoul with a fantastic firework display – read our more detailed Seoul New Year’s Eve 2025 / 2026 guide here >
There are usually several Seoul New Year’s Eve Firework displays either from LOTTE Tower, along the Han River and at big Seoul shopping malls like COEX Mall.
Traditional bell ringing and special ceremonies will also take place at Seoul temples like Bosingak temple in Jongno.
2025 Seoul New Year’s Eve fireworks are free to attend but some venues may charge entry.
For instance, a popular Seoul New Year’s Eve firework viewing spot is from the restaurants inside N Seoul / Namsan Tower.
Myeondong at New Year’s Eve has a countdown K-Pop concert, usually starting from 11pm outside Shinsegae Department Store.
Another popular Seoul New Year’s Eve tradition is to get up early on 1 January (or stay up all night) and await the first sunrise of the new year – a popular spot to do this is Jeongdongjin Beach and Naksansa Temple.
Details are to be confirmed but you will be able to purchase these Han River Fireworks Dinner Cruise and 2025 New Year’s Eve Countdown tickets soon on Klook >
You might like – Our new South Korea 7 Day Itinerary – Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan >
Seoul K-Food Festival ‘Knock Knock’ / Nok Nok
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 31 December 2025
We love Korean food so the thought of attending this popular Seoul food festival in October 2025 is making us very hungry.
Free to attend, each week 15 to 20 food trucks rock up to downtown Seoul and serve up tasty Korean snacks and hot food – think fried chicken, oodles of noodles and nice rice dishes plus more unusual dishes like puffed rice ice cream.
Taking place Friday to Sunday 4pm to 9pm at Sejongno Park (close to Cheonggyecheon Stream and Gwanghwamun Square), make sure you arrive hungry!
You might like – 30+ different Korean foods you must try >
Garden of Morning Calm Winter Lights Festival 2025 / 2026
5 December 2025 – 15 March 2026
Every December through mid March, the Garden of Morning Calm transforms into a winter wonderland with various themes and displays. The entire site is festooned with festive light tunnels and cute Christmas / winter light displays.
You might like our guide to the Garden of Morning Calm >
You might like – Our guide to the best day trips from Seoul including Nami Island and the DMZ
DDP Architecture Tour
Every Tuesday to Sunday at 1.30pm accept public holidays until 31 December 2025
Not so much a 2025 Seoul festival but a common question in our South Korea Travel Tips and Planning Facebook group is about English language tours of the DDP in Seoul (not to be confused with the DMZ which is something entirely different).
There are several free walking tours of the Dongdemun Design Plaza (DDP) held every day (except Monday) although most Seoul travellers don’t know there is one DDP conducted in English at 1.30pm.
The free Seoul DDP tours last 60 minutes and must be booked in advance via the official site or on Naver.
You might like – Our guide to 25+ things to do in Dongdaemun including Gwangjang Market
Seoul Concerts in December 2025
Here are some of the headline concerts in Seoul (K-Pop and international artists) in December 2025
Godspeed You! Black Emperor Live in Seoul
3 December 2025 – Starria Hostel, Seoul
Kacey Musgraves
4 December 2025 – Seoul Yes24 Live Hall
Doja Cat
13 to 15 December 2025 – Kintex 2 Exhibition Hall 10 Seoul
G-Dragon
12 to 14 December 2025 – Gocheok Sky Dome
Melon Music Awards (MMA) 2025 – a Seoul K-Pop awards ceremony
20 December 2025 – Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul
The Closing 2025 Year End Concert
31 December 2025 – The National Theater of Korea, Seoul
You might also like – 15+ K-Pop activities in Seoul >
Seoul pop-ups December 2025
For a full list of all the Seoul pop-up stores in December 2025, check out this comprehensive guide (you need to change the date to ‘December’).
You might like – Our 3 day Seoul highlights itinerary >
Regular events in Seoul (all year round)
NANTA Theatre Cooking Show
There are many theatre shows to see in Seoul on rainy days but perhaps the most famous (and long-running) is the NANTA theatre show.
This world renowned comedy cooking show has been packing in audiences worldwide since 1997. Possibly the best known Korean theatre show, NANTA Theatre has been performed over 50,000 times in over 60 countries and is a fun mix of slapstick and physical comedy.
There are very few spoken words used throughout so not understanding Korean (or English) won’t be an issue.
Myeongdong NANTA Theatre has at least two NANTA performances every day, with evening shows held at 5pm and 8pm Monday to Saturday (on Sundays, it is 2pm and 5pm).
Book your Myeongdong Nanta Theater Show Ticket >
The Painters show
‘The Painters’ in Seoul is the world’s first live painting show combined with music – a few people have asked recently about an alternative to the ‘Nanta Cooking / Comedy Show’ and we’d recommend ‘The Painters’. It is on 7 nights a week in Seoul at 8pm (and 2pm and 5pm).
To be honest, we thought it was going to be naff (terrible) but it was surprisingly good and the theatrics and artistry were amazing. Even if you don’t like K-Pop style shows, the way they create incredible paintings from nothing is spellbinding.
Korean ‘idols’ recreate famous paintings such as Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Heaven’ and Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Self-Portrait’ with splendid choreography and live drawings. It sounds like it will be kitsch AF but we both loved it. There is also a photo opp with the boys at the end.
For more info and tickets, check out ‘The Painters’ on Klook >
Other South Korea December 2025 Festivals and Events
Busan Gwangalli Drone Show (Free) – every Saturday night at 7pm and 9pm
Busan’s Gwangalli Beach is the place to be every Saturday night with the weekly Gwangalli M Drone display over the night sky.
Seriously for us, this had to be one of the top 5 things to do in Busan, not just Gwangalli. It is also a great thing to enjoy in Busan with kids.
Every Saturday night at 8pm and 10pm (October to December, 7pm and 9pm), over 300 aerial drones take to the skies of Gwangalli Beach and create an incredible skyborne spectacle, with various scenes and characters created.
Each week, the official Gwangalli drone show website lists what the theme will that Saturday.
More things to do in Gwangalli >
Busan Christmas Tree Cultural Festival 2025
Mid November 2025 to until early February 2026
Haeundae Light Festival, Busan
Mid December 2025 to early February 2026
Sanjeong Lake Sledding Festival 2025/26
27 December 2025 to early February 2026 (TBC)
Try this – Pocheon and seasonal hot attractions one day tour from Seoul >
Various Korea New Year’s Eve / Day Sunrise festivals
31 December to 1 January
Popular festivals include the Jeju Seongsan Sunrise Festival and Homigot Sunrise Festival (Pohang).
January 2026 Seoul events and upcoming South Korea festivals include:
- Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival from mid January 2026
- More TBC
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