Santa Village Comes to Gwanghwamun... Seoul to Host 'Seoul Winter Festa'

From December 12, Festivities Across the City
'Santa Village' and 'Rudolph Carousel' Await
Participatory 'Bell-Ringing Ceremony Illuminated by Citizens'

South Korea's largest winter festival, the 'Seoul Winter Festa,' will kick off next month. Santa Village will be set up in Gwanghwamun, while a world-class media art festival will take place at DDP. Last year, 5.4 million citizens and international tourists participated in the Seoul Winter Festa, and this year, it will be upgraded with K-culture collaboration events and more.

According to Seoul City on November 24, this year's Seoul Winter Festa will be held from December 12, 2025, to January 4, 2026, at locations including Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Plaza, and DDP.

'2025 Seoul Winter Festa' Major Events. Seoul City

This year's event will be directed by Lee Jaewon, the general director who successfully led major Korean festivals such as the Royal Culture Festival and the National Dance Festival. Under the theme 'Fantasia Seoul: A Dreamlike Seoul Created by Citizens,' the festival is designed as a participatory grand celebration where not only Seoul citizens but also tourists from around the world can become the main characters, going beyond simply being spectators.

The festival will begin with the 'Fantasia Light Parade' at 7 p.m. on December 12 at Gwanghwamun Square. The event will feature a performance by an invited team from the Philippines, a creative Korean dance by the Areumduri Dance Company, and a musical gala show by leading Korean musical actors. In addition, a choir of over 150 citizens and a performance by the LED art performance group 'Saengdonggam Crew' will be presented.

At Gwanghwamun Square, 'Seoul Light Gwanghwamun' will transform the entire square into a giant canvas, and the 'Gwanghwamun Market' will take place. This year, the Gwanghwamun Market will be themed as 'Santa Village,' recreating a European Christmas market and installing a Rudolph carousel to evoke a sense of childhood wonder among visitors.

'Seoul Light Gwanghwamun' will feature a media facade show under the theme 'Gwanghwa, Breathing with Light,' as well as an interactive program where citizens can hit a large drum to trigger laser beams themselves.

At Cheonggyecheon, the 'Seoul Lantern Festival,' now in its 17th year, will be held under the theme 'My Light, Our Dream, The Magic of Seoul.' Starting from the 'Palma (Eight Horses)' sculpture at Cheonggye Plaza, passing Samilgyo Bridge, and reaching Ogansumun near DDP, the waterway will be adorned with light installations in four themes and experimental media art.

At Seoul Plaza, a skating rink will be open for 52 days from December 19, 2025, to February 8, 2026, under the theme 'Winter Ring: A Ring of Festivity Blooming Over the City.' At DDP, the world-renowned media art festival 'Seoul Light DDP' and the global influencer expo 'SeoulCon' will be held simultaneously. Other participatory events are also planned, including the unique urban competition 'Winter Sleeping Contest,' a 'Street Parade' blending dazzling lights and music, and a 'K-POP Dance Party' enjoyed with wireless headphones.

The highlight of the festival, the 'New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony,' will take place at Bosingak on December 31. This year, under the concept 'You Are the Light,' a media facade will be mapped onto the roof tiles of Bosingak, synchronizing the ringing of the bell with visual effects on the building to introduce a new genre of visualizing sound. Kim Taehui, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Culture Headquarters, stated, "After receiving the love of 5.4 million citizens last year, the Seoul Winter Festa will take another leap forward this year as a festival where both citizens and tourists can actively participate and enjoy together. I hope everyone will experience the 'Dreamlike Seoul' where citizens are the main characters, wherever they are in the heart of the city."

'Seoul Winter Festa' Daily Average Visitor Trends. Seoul City

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.