Quick answer: Christmas Day, Friday 25 December 2026, is a public holiday in Korea, so you get a three-day weekend from 25 to 27 December. Seoul’s winter events usually run from late November or mid-December into January: the Seoul Winter Festa around Gwanghwamun and Cheonggyecheon, department-store light shows in Myeongdong, and Christmas markets in Jamsil and Yeouido. As of 14 October 2026, most 2026 dates have not been announced yet. This guide marks what is confirmed and what is expected from last year. I’ll update it when dates come out.
I’m Sue. I’ve lived in the Seoul area for about 20 years, and December is when the city looks its best: the lights go up and the department stores compete with their façades. It’s also very cold and very crowded on the 24th. Here is how I would plan a Christmas trip to Seoul in 2026.
Christmas in Seoul 2026 at a glance
Confirmed means an official 2026 date exists. Not announced means you should plan around last year’s pattern, shown in the right-hand column, and check again in November.
| Event | 2026 status | Last year (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day public holiday | Confirmed: Fri 25 Dec 2026 | — |
| Seoul Winter Festa (Gwanghwamun, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Plaza) | Listed by the city: 14 Dec 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 (programme not announced) | 12 Dec 2025 – 4 Jan 2026 |
| Gwanghwamun Square Christmas market | Not announced | Until 31 Dec 2025 |
| Seoul Lantern Festival, Cheonggyecheon | Not announced | Part of Winter Festa, to 4 Jan 2026 |
| Seoul Plaza ice rink | Not announced | 19 Dec 2025 – 8 Feb 2026 |
| Shinsegae media façade, Myeongdong | Not announced | 7 Nov 2025 – 31 Jan 2026, evenings from 5 pm |
| Lotte World Tower Christmas market, Jamsil | Not announced | 20 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026 |
| The Hyundai Seoul Christmas pop-up, Yeouido | Not announced | 1 Nov – 31 Dec 2025, 10:30–20:00 |
| Bosingak New Year’s bell-ringing | Listed by the city: Thu 31 Dec 2026 | 31 Dec 2025 |
The city’s 2026 events page lists the Winter Festival from 14 December, but an image caption on the same page says 12 December. Treat the start date as provisional. Sources are listed at the end of this guide.
Is Christmas a big deal in Korea?
Yes, but not in the way many visitors expect. Christmas is a public holiday, but for many Koreans it feels more like a date night or a night out with friends than a family holiday. Families get together at Chuseok and Seollal instead.
So on 24 and 25 December, expect couples and groups of friends in Myeongdong, Gangnam, Hongdae, Seongsu and Jamsil, and expect popular restaurants to be fully booked. Many people buy or pre-order a Christmas cake from a bakery or hotel, so you will see cake displays everywhere in December.
What is open on Christmas Day?
- Usually open: department stores, shopping malls, most cafés, restaurants and convenience stores.
- Usually closed: banks, post offices and government offices.
- Public transport: runs, but on a holiday timetable. Allow extra time between trains.
- Palaces and museums: many close on a fixed weekday rather than on Christmas. Check each one before you go.
A local’s Christmas evening walk: Myeongdong → Cheonggyecheon → Gwanghwamun
If you only have one evening, this is the route I’d suggest. It links the main light displays in central Seoul, and each walk is roughly 15–20 minutes. Start around 5 pm, which is when the Shinsegae façade switched on in 2025.
- Shinsegae main store, Myeongdong. Watch the media façade from the square in front of the store (Shinsegae Square). The nearest station is Hoehyeon (Line 4), or Myeongdong (Line 4) if you also want to walk through the shopping streets.
- Cheonggyecheon stream. Walk north to Cheonggye Plaza. In 2025 the Seoul Lantern Festival ran along the stream from Cheonggye Plaza towards DDP.
- Gwanghwamun Square. Walk west to the square for the Christmas market and the light show on the buildings around it. Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) is right there.
- Optional: Seoul Plaza. If the ice rink is open, it is a short walk south, next to City Hall Station (Lines 1 and 2).
Use NAVER Map for walking directions, and load your T-money card before the evening so you are not queuing at a machine in the cold. If the subway is new to you, start with our Seoul subway guide.
Christmas markets in Seoul
Gwanghwamun Square Christmas market
An outdoor market that is part of the Seoul Winter Festa. In 2025 it opened with the festival on 12 December and ran until 31 December. It is free to walk in, and it’s the easiest market to fit into the evening route above.
Lotte World Tower Christmas market, Jamsil
The big ticketed one. In 2025 it ran from 20 November to 4 January at World Park next to Lotte World Tower. VisitKorea described free entry before 4 pm and a paid evening ticket after 4 pm, and reservations were made through Naver. Pre-reservations opened on 10 November.
Naver reservations usually need a Naver account. If you want an evening slot, set one up before November: see how to make a Naver account as a foreigner. Jamsil Station is on Lines 2 and 8.
The Hyundai Seoul, Yeouido
The department store’s indoor Christmas pop-up is one of the most photographed in Seoul. In 2025 it ran from 1 November to 31 December, and pre-reservations were released through the store’s KakaoTalk and Instagram channels. A December 2025 visitor report said there was also an on-site queue by QR code, and that people without a Korean phone number could ask for a paper ticket at the entrance. Yeouido Station is on Lines 5 and 9.
New Year’s Eve: the Bosingak bell
The city lists the bell-ringing ceremony at Bosingak for Thursday 31 December 2026, and 1 January 2027 is a public holiday. Bosingak is next to Jonggak Station (Line 1), at the end of the evening route above.
It is one of the most crowded nights of the year in central Seoul. In recent years the city has adjusted late-night transport around the ceremony, and trains have at times passed through Jonggak without stopping for crowd safety. Check the 2026 announcement before you go. Taxis are very hard to get right after midnight, so read our Kakao T guide and have a walking plan as a backup.
Weather and what to wear
Late December in Seoul is properly cold. Nights are often below freezing, and the wind along Cheonggyecheon and Gwanghwamun makes it feel colder. A white Christmas is not guaranteed; many Christmases are dry and cold.
- A warm padded coat, hat, gloves and scarf if you plan to stand outside watching light shows.
- Thermal layers you can remove indoors, because shops and the subway are heated.
- Hand warmers, sold at convenience stores as 핫팩 (hot pack).
- Shoes with grip, in case of ice.
Planning tips for Christmas in Seoul
- Book hotels early for 24–25 December and 31 December.
- Reserve restaurants for Christmas Eve if you want a specific place. Walk-ins are hard that night.
- Go on a weekday if you can. In 2026 the 25th falls on a Friday, so 25–27 December will be busy everywhere.
- Save your places in a NAVER Map list before you go, so you are not searching in the cold: how to save places on NAVER Map.
- Check dates again in November. Most 2026 schedules are usually announced in October or November, and I will update this guide.
FAQ
Is Christmas a public holiday in South Korea?
Yes. 25 December is a public holiday. In 2026 it falls on a Friday.
Are shops open on Christmas Day in Seoul?
Most department stores, malls, cafés, restaurants and convenience stores open. Banks, post offices and government offices close.
When does the Seoul Winter Festa 2026 start?
The city’s 2026 events page lists 14 December 2026 to 31 January 2027, although an image caption on the same page says 12 December. The detailed programme had not been announced as of 14 October 2026. In 2025 it ran from 12 December to 4 January.
Do I need a reservation for Christmas markets in Seoul?
Not for the Gwanghwamun market, which was free to walk in. In 2025 the Lotte World Tower market’s evening ticket and The Hyundai Seoul pop-up both used reservations, so check their channels in early November.
Does it snow at Christmas in Seoul?
It can, but don’t count on it. Expect cold, dry weather and dress for below-freezing nights.
| Last updated | 14 October 2026 |
| Status | Pre-announcement guide: most 2026 dates not yet published |
| Based on | Seoul Metropolitan Government 2026 events list, 2025 event reports, and local knowledge |
| Next update | When the 2026 Winter Festa and market dates are announced |
Related guides
- How to use the Seoul subway — maps, transfers and exits
- T-money card in Seoul — buy and top up before your trip
- Naver account for foreigners — needed for many Naver reservations
- Kakao T vs k.ride — calling a taxi in Korea
Sources
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Holidays and annual events for 2026 in Seoul: Winter Festival dates, Bosingak bell, Christmas holiday
- The Korea Herald — Seoul Winter Festa 2025 programme (24 Nov 2025)
- VISITKOREA — Lotte Town Christmas Market (2025)
- Moodie Davitt Report — Shinsegae Myeongdong media façade (2025)
- Seoul Searching — The Hyundai Seoul Christmas market (Dec 2025)
Leave a Reply