Planning to spend New Year’s Eve in Seoul? A splendid way to see in 2026 and the end of 2026, Seoul’s New Year’s Eve traditions including fireworks, seeing the first sunrise of the year and special dinners or parties.
There are a lot of Seoul December events including Christmas lights and markets and 1 January 2026 in South Korea is a public holiday so many people will be celebrating New Year’s Eve in Seoul in style.
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However note this is different from the usual bigger Korean Seollal Lunar New Year holidays which start from 17 February 2026.
From traditional bell ringing and special ceremonies at temples to wish lanterns and fantastic firework displays, here is our guide to Seoul New Year’s Eve in 2025.
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Seoul Accomodation
Just a reminder that as with any New Year’s Eve anywhere in the world, it is advisable to book your Seoul hotels several months in advance to secure the best rate.
If you plan to see the main Lotte Tower fireworks display in Jamsil, you might want to get a hotel in Gangnam or in a nearby Seoul neighborhood.
You might like – Our Seoul December events guide or the best Seoul Christmas markets and lights
Seoul New Year’s Eve transport
On 31 December 2025, Seoul’s last subway trains and standard bus services will likely run until 2am the next day, extending the usual schedules by one hour.
Taxis like Kakao T and Uber will also be available but likely at a premium.
Please also note that on New Year’s Eve, Seoul’s Ttareungi Bike Rental Stations also close from midnight to 9am when near a busy NYE site.
You might like – Our guide to Seoul’s subway and the best Korea phone apps to download
Seoul New Year’s Eve fireworks 2025
31 December 2025 to 1 January 2026
Ring in the new year in Seoul with a fantastic firework display – at the time of writing (October 2025), the exact 2025 Seoul New Year’s Eve firework details are still to be confirmed but we will be updating this article again nearer the time
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.
In 2024, many of the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Seoul were cancelled as a mark of respect for the victims of the tragic Jeju Air crash that happened on 29 December 2024.
Unlike other firework celebrations in other capital cities where there is just one main display, Seoul usually has several big firework displays to see in the new year.
Some of the best New Year’s Eve Firework spots include:
Lotte World Tower fireworks
The biggest Seoul New Year’s Eve firework display, this sees fireworks shoot off the side of the huge tower as a huge crowd erupts in celebration.
This is a very popular spot to see in the South Korea New Year so revellers arrive early and join in with a pre countdown party and live entertainment – it is also livestreamed on local news and on Lotte’s social channels.
You might like – Things to do in Gangnam guide >
Lotte World Adventure New Year’s Countdown Festa 2025
31 December 2025 (Christmas events from late November 2025)
Throughout December and the Christmas period, Lotte World in Seoul is a magical place to visit and on Seoul New Year’s Eve, there is a special countdown Festa (party) plus a character parade to see in 2026.
This year’s 2025 / 2026 Christmas and New Year theme at Seoul Lotte World is still to be confirmed.
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.
Book your Lotte World ticket on Klook >
COEX Mall New Year’s Eve 코엑스 신년 카운트다운
31 December 2025
Another of the bigger New Year’s Eve fireworks displays, the rooftop of Gangnam’s COEX Mall erupts with fireworks on the stroke of midnight on 1 January 2026.
There is a countdown show with K-Pop style performances plus bargains to be had in the mall in the run-up to the display – get there early to secure a prime spot.
You might like – Our guide to Seoul’s best shopping malls or Starfield Library
Seoul DDP New Year’s Eve Fireworks and Winter Illuminations
TBC – Late December 2025 to 1 January 2026
The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is famous for its seasonal illuminations and NYE fireworks.
Seoul’s legendary cultural plaza chock full of museums, galleries and boutique shops, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) lights up at Christmas from late December with a festive winter light show.
On New Year’s Eve itself, the DDP usually hosts a New Year’s Countdown at Oullim Square on with live performers, installations and colorful celebrations.
Check out our things to do in Dongdaemun guide >
Shinsegae Square Countdown, Myeongdong
31 December 2025
Spending Seoul New Year’s Eve in Myeongdong? If you don’t fancy trekking to COEX or Lotte, there is a Shinsegae Square Countdown on 31 December 2025.
Taking place near to the big fountain and making full use of the huge Shinsegae LCD screen, there will be Myeongdong fireworks, K-Pop performances and live appearances by Korean celebrities and Shinsegae ambassadors.
The great thing is if you are staying in a Myeongdong hotel, you can walk back easily afterwards and not have to worry about taxis or public transport.
You might like our things to do in Myeongdong guide >
New Year’s Eve Seoul cruise
2025 Seoul New Year’s Eve cruise details are still to be confirmed but they will be available from Klook like this one >
Usually, you go on a River Han cruise earlier in the evening setting off your own fireworks and entertainment before heading to one of the many Seoul city fireworks displays.
You might like – Our things to do in Seoul at night guide >
Other Seoul New Year’s Eve fireworks / countdown spots
There are lots of places to ring in the New Year in Seoul but other popular fireworks and countdown celebration spots usually include:
- Seoul Plaza NYE Countdown including ice-skating
- 2025 Red Road Countdown Event (this is Hongdae’s New Year’s Eve countdown)
One of the best New Year’s Eve viewing spots in Seoul is along the banks of the Han River for unspoilt views and a glimpse of various firework displays going off at the stroke of midnight – arrive early to secure a good spot.
You might like – Our guide to easy day trips from Seoul including the DMZ and Nami Island
Seoul Lantern Festival at Cheong-gye-cheon stream / Seoul Winter Festa
Mid December 2025 – mid January 2026
As well as locals releasing lucky lanterns for both New Year and Lunar New Year, you can see huge lantern displays on New Year’s Eve and throughout January 2026.
This is one of our favourite Seoul December festivals. Seoul’s annual lantern festival and Seoul Winter Festa 2025 pop up along Cheong-gye-cheon stream and Gwanghwamun Square (TBC at the time of writing).
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 lantern festival 2025 at Cheong-gye-cheon stream runs from mid December until mid January 2026 and is free admission. Visit the official website here >
Traditional Seoul New Year’s Eve ceremonies
Bell-Ringing at Bosingak
From 11.15pm on 31 December 2025
Located in Jongno district, this beautiful bell-ringing ceremony has been an annual New Year’s eve tradition in Seoul for over 70 years.
After some cultural performances, the Bosingak bronze bell is rung 33 times precisely to welcome in the New Year.
The bell is rung 33 times in reference to the Joseon-era practice of signaling the opening and closing of Seoul’s historic city wall gates at 4am.
Once the historic proceedings are finished, a musical performance with K-Pop singers usually takes place.
You might like – 50 top things to do in South Korea including going to a Korean baseball game
Watching the first sunrise of the year
Usually happening around 7.30 to 7.45am, many Koreans stay up (or awake very early) to see the first sunrise of the New Year.
Popular Seoul sunrise New year spots include Haneul Park, Namsan Park (where N Seoul / Namsan Tower is located), Achasan Mountain and Mount Eungbong.
Of these, if you are staying in a Seoul city hotel, Namsan Park or Hanuel Park are the most accessible – check out our guide to Namsan Trail >
Other Seoul New Year’s Eve 2025 events and parties
Nearer the time, there will be more Seoul New Year Eve events and parties announced like sunset tours and 2026 New Year Sunrise Tour at Jeongdongjin Beach/ Naksansa Temple from Seoul.
Our final Seoul New Year’s Eve activities
As well as fireworks, Seoul at Christmas and in the New Year comes alive with a feast of festive favorites and classic Christmas lights and events – Seoul at Christmas 2025 will be no different and most displays run until January 2026.
There are countless Seoul Christmas lights and events from Seoul shopping mall Christmas light displays to huge Christmas trees plus skating rinks, snow-covered winter villages and special Christmas markets – here is our updated Seoul Christmas 2025 guide >
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