Christmas and New Year in Seoul: What's Open and What to Do
Christmas (December 25) and New Year's Day (January 1) are both Fridays in 2026 and public holidays. Last season's lantern walk, Gwanghwamun market and 1,000 won Seoul Plaza rink all ran through the holidays, and the Bosingak countdown happens on December 31. Confirm 2026 dates, as they are not announced yet.
- Holidays in 2026
- Christmas, Friday December 25; New Year's Day, Friday January 1
- Countdown
- Bosingak Pavilion, Jongno, midnight on December 31
- Cheapest activity
- Seoul Plaza ice rink, 1,000 won per hour (2025-26 price)
- Official site
- Visit Seoul
What should I know before I arrive?
Information checked November 1, 2026
The 2026-27 programme is not published yet, so the dates below come from last season and should be confirmed before you book. Seoul's winter festival has run for several seasons with the same pattern: lights and a lantern walk from mid-December, a Christmas market, an ice rink and a midnight bell ceremony.
- Worth knowing: Christmas (Friday, December 25) and New Year's Day (Friday, January 1) are public holidays in 2026, which makes December 25 to 27 a long weekend. December 31 is a Thursday and a normal working day.
- A common mistake: Treating last year's dates as this year's. The Korea JoongAng Daily reported the 2025 Seoul Winter Festa as running December 12, 2025 to January 4, 2026, but the 2026 edition has no announced dates as of November 1, 2026.
- Local tip: Dress for the cold. Our December weather and packing guide has temperature averages and a packing list.
What festivals and lights run over the holidays?
Expect a lantern walk on Cheonggyecheon, a Christmas market at Gwanghwamun and an ice rink at Seoul Plaza, based on the 2025-26 season. All dates below are last season's, so treat them as a pattern, not a schedule.
| Event | 2025-26 dates | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul Lantern Festival | Dec 12, 2025 to Jan 18, 2026, 18:00 to 23:00 | Cheonggyecheon (City Hall Exit 4 or Gwanghwamun Exit 5) | Free |
| Gwanghwamun Christmas market | Dec 12 to Dec 31, 2025 | Gwanghwamun Square | Not stated |
| Seoul Plaza ice rink | Dec 19, 2025 to Feb 8, 2026 | Seoul Plaza (City Hall Exit 5 or 6) | 1,000 won per hour, skates and helmet included |
| Bosingak bell ringing | Dec 31, midnight | Bosingak Pavilion, Jongno | Not stated |
Sources: Visit Seoul lantern festival page for the lantern walk, Visit Seoul rink page for the rink and Korea JoongAng Daily for the market and bell ceremony. The JoongAng report gives a shorter lantern run to January 4, so the longer Visit Seoul dates are likely the festival's full run; confirm on the official page. The rink charges 1,000 won per hour and offers 50 percent off for visitors aged 65 and over with proof. It stayed open until 21:30 Sunday to Friday and 23:00 on Saturdays and public holidays.
Practical example: a first evening could start with the lantern walk along the stream and end at the Gwanghwamun market, which is on our Cheonggyecheon to Gwanghwamun walk. See the VisitKorea winter festivals guide for other regions.
How does the New Year's Eve countdown work?
The bell rings at Bosingak Pavilion at midnight on December 31, and the area is tightly managed, so arrive early or watch from a nearby street. Last year's police plan is the best guide to what to expect.
- Crowd control: The Seoul police plan reported on December 30, 2025 divided the Bosingak area with safety fences into 12 sections, each limited to its capacity, and expected the largest crowds from 23:50 to 00:30.
- Subway: The same report said trains bypassed Jonggak Station (Line 1) from 23:00 on December 31 to 01:00 on January 1, so riders used nearby stations.
- Roads: Vehicle restrictions ran from 18:00 on December 31 to 07:00 on January 1 around Jongno, so plan to arrive by subway.
- Late transport: In 2023, The Korea Times reported subway service extended to 02:00 with 173 extra trains. Whether 2026 will match is not announced, so check Seoul Metro the week before.
The Korea Times described the 2023 programme as a street parade and K-pop stage before the bell, with about 100,000 people expected; the performers and format change yearly. For a calmer evening, our subway guide explains how to move around while stations are crowded.
What is open on December 25 and January 1?
Most major sights keep their normal weekly closing day, so check the weekday first, then the holiday. The grand palaces close on Mondays, except Gyeongbokgung, which closes on Tuesdays, according to Visit Seoul.
| Date | Weekday | Gyeongbokgung | Other four palaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 25, 2026 | Friday | Open (not its closing day) | Open (not their closing day) |
| Dec 28 | Monday | Open | Closed |
| Dec 29 | Tuesday | Closed | Open |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Friday | Open (not its closing day) | Open (not their closing day) |
| Jan 4 | Monday | Open | Closed |
This table applies the weekly closing days to the holiday dates and is not an official holiday schedule, so confirm any special closure on the palace page. Visit Seoul lists Gyeongbokgung at 09:00 to 17:00 for November and December with last entry one hour before closing, and says that if a public holiday falls on a closing day the palace opens. Our palace comparison covers the other four.
For shops, restaurants and cafés, no official page sets holiday hours. Expect popular places to be busy, and check opening hours on each venue's own page before you go.
How do I plan the week around the holidays?
Book lodging early, keep the evenings for lights and fit palaces into morning hours. Winter days are short and palaces close in the afternoon.
- Check the dates. Look at the Visit Seoul events pages for the 2026-27 Winta (Seoul Winter Festa), lantern festival and rink once they are published.
- Book a stay near the lights. Areas near City Hall and Jongno keep the walk short; see where to stay in Seoul.
- Do palaces in the morning. Arrive before 14:00 for Gyeongbokgung and plan lanterns or the rink for after dark.
- Choose your countdown. Join the Bosingak crowd or watch from a nearby street; leave extra time on December 31 for station bypasses.
- Keep a backup day. Use an indoor option from our indoor things to do list if it is very cold.
FAQ
Is Seoul open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day?
Both are public holidays and fall on Fridays in 2026, so expect some shops and restaurants to change hours. Gyeongbokgung's closing day is Tuesday, so neither date is its regular closing day, but check the palace page before you go.
Where is the New Year's Eve countdown in Seoul?
The traditional bell-ringing is at Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno at midnight on December 31. Last year, trains skipped Jonggak Station from 23:00 to 01:00 and the surrounding roads were restricted, so plan to arrive from a nearby station.
Does the Seoul Plaza ice rink open over the holidays?
Last season it ran from December 19, 2025 to February 8, 2026 for 1,000 won per hour with skates and helmet included, and the official page lists no closure for December 25 or January 1. Confirm the 2026-27 schedule once it is published.
Are the Christmas markets and lantern festival free?
The Seoul Lantern Festival listed free admission in 2025. The sources checked do not state a fee for the Gwanghwamun Christmas market, so ask on site before buying. Dates and any fees for 2026 have not been announced.
Which palaces can I visit during the holidays?
Gyeongbokgung is closed on Tuesdays and the other grand palaces on Mondays, so on December 28 and January 4 only Gyeongbokgung is open, and on December 29 and January 5 everything except Gyeongbokgung is open. Winter hours are shorter, so go before mid-afternoon.
Official sources and useful links
Links open in a new tab. Dates and prices above are from the 2025-26 season; verify on these pages.
- Visit Seoul: Seoul Lantern Festival 2025 dates, hours, admission and nearest stations
- Visit Seoul: Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink season dates, hours, price and discounts
- Visit Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace winter hours, closing day and admission
- VisitKorea: Winter festivals 2025-26 overview of Korea's winter festivals
- Korea JoongAng Daily: Seoul Winter Festa 2025 venues and dates (news report)
- Fn News: New Year safety measures 2025 Bosingak crowd, subway and road plan (news report)
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