Christmas in Seoul 2026: Markets, Light Festivals and Where to See the Lights

Christmas lights are already on in Seoul. On October 30, 2026, Lotte Department Store lit up the outside of its main branch in Myeongdong. Shinsegae and Hyundai are switching on their displays one branch at a time between late October and November 10. The city's biggest free winter events are the Gwanghwamun Christmas market, the Cheonggyecheon lantern festival and the Seoul Plaza ice rink. As of October 31, 2026, the city has not published their exact 2026 dates, hours or prices.

This guide keeps what is confirmed for 2026 apart from what happened last season. Last season's details are clearly labeled. Use them to plan, but don't treat them as promises for this year.

What is confirmed for 2026 (as of October 31, 2026)

Department store light displays

The three big department store groups set out their 2026 Christmas plans in late October. Their displays are the first lights of the season, and you can see them from the street for free.

Where	2026 theme	Lights on	Nearest station
Lotte Department Store main branch, Myeongdong	Lottetown Dream Light Garden	October 30 (already on)	Euljiro 1-ga (Line 2)
Shinsegae main branch, Myeongdong	Christmas film on the Shinsegae Square media facade	November 6	Hoehyeon (Line 4)
Hyundai, Trade Center branch (COEX area)	Christmas in New York City	October 27 (already on)	Samseong (Line 2)
Hyundai, Apgujeong main branch	Christmas in New York City	November 1	Apgujeong Rodeo (Suin-Bundang Line)
The Hyundai Seoul, Yeouido	Christmas in New York City, indoor village	November 10	Yeouido (Lines 5, 9)

Lotte, Myeongdong. About 20,000 bulbs cover the main building's outer wall. Lotte has also lit a "light street" of roughly 100 meters that runs from Euljiro 1-ga Station to the main building and the Avenuel luxury wing. Along the way you pass a 15-meter tree shaped like a heart. At the main entrance there is a media-art space of about 50 pyeong, or roughly 165 square meters. The entrance also has a sculpture of Lotte's new character, Heyyeti, and a photo zone. Lotte's Incheon branch has a large tree outside too, but in Seoul the Myeongdong store is the one to visit.

Shinsegae, Myeongdong. Shinsegae Square is the huge LED screen on the front of the main store. Its Christmas film starts on November 6. This year's story follows a bear who sends a wish letter off on a balloon boat and ends up finishing a Christmas tree. The screen is a short walk from the Lotte display, so you can see both in one evening. Shinsegae also runs indoor holiday markets that sell gifts and decorations. The Gangnam branch market opened on October 30 and the Myeongdong main branch market opens on November 24. Outside Seoul, the Daejeon branch market opens on November 13 and the Centum City branch in Busan opens on November 27.

Hyundai. This year Hyundai is recreating Christmas streets in 1980s and 1990s New York. On the 5th floor of The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, the Sounds Forest atrium will hold 13 red-brick buildings up to 10 meters tall. There will also be neon signs, billboards and yellow cabs. Hyundai says more than 1.5 million people visited this Christmas village, called H Village, between 2022 and last year. Entry is by advance reservation only. Foreign visitors have their own booking and waiting list. The October news reports did not say when bookings open, so check Hyundai's official channels in early November. The Apgujeong and Trade Center branches each have a 13-meter tree.

Planned city events (dates not yet final)

Seoul's culture portal (Fun Seoul, festival.seoul.go.kr) lists these 2026 events as planned:

• 2026 Gwanghwamun Market, Gwanghwamun Square: listed only as "December (planned)." The city describes a Christmas village inspired by European markets. It will have stalls run by small businesses selling handicrafts, goods and food, booths from partner organizations, photo zones and hands-on activities, some of them free. No exact dates or hours have been posted.
• Seoul Light DDP 2026 Winter, Dongdaemun Design Plaza: listed with a planned date of December 17, 2026. The listing promises a media facade and a Christmas-town setting. Only one day is shown, so the full run is probably not set yet.
• Korea Christmas Festival (대한민국 성탄축제), Seoul Plaza and the Deoksugung area: listed with a planned date of November 16, 2026.

These are early listings, and they may change before the official announcements.

Last season's dates, for planning (2025–26)

Last winter, the city's main events ran under one umbrella festival, Seoul Winter Festa. It ran from December 12, 2025 to January 4, 2026 at Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Plaza, DDP, Bosingak, Ui-cheon stream and other sites. If 2026 follows the same pattern, expect it to open around mid-December. The city usually releases the full program only a few weeks before opening.

Event (last season)	Dates	Hours	Cost
Gwanghwamun Market	Dec 12–31, 2025	17:30–21:30 (Dec 31 until midnight)	Free entry
Seoul Light Gwanghwamun (media facade show)	Dec 12, 2025–Jan 4, 2026	Sun–Thu 17:30–21:30; Fri–Sat 17:30–22:00; Dec 31 until 00:30	Free
Seoul Lantern Festival, Cheonggyecheon	Dec 12, 2025–Jan 18, 2026	18:00–22:00	Free
Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink	Dec 19, 2025–Feb 8, 2026	Sun–Fri 10:00–21:30; Sat and holidays 10:00–23:00	KRW 1,000 per one-hour session
Lotte Town Christmas Market, Jamsil	Nov 19, 2025–Jan 4, 2026	11:30–22:00	Free before 16:00; paid tickets only after 16:00

Gwanghwamun Market and Seoul Light

The market fills Gwanghwamun Square with food and craft stalls. On most nights last season it closed at 21:30, but on New Year's Eve it stayed open until midnight. The Seoul Light Gwanghwamun show projects media art onto the buildings around the square, and the shows repeat throughout the evening. A good plan is to arrive around 17:30, when things open, look around the stalls, and then catch a show. Use Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5).

Seoul Lantern Festival on Cheonggyecheon

Last season, glowing sculptures and media art lined the walkways along Cheonggyecheon stream. The route was split into four zones. A smaller section ran along Ui-cheon stream in northern Seoul and closed on January 4. The Cheonggyecheon section stayed open two weeks longer than the market, until January 18. It is free. The walkway beside the water is narrow, so on weekend evenings expect crowds and slow walking.

Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink

The rink in front of City Hall is one of the cheapest winter activities in Seoul. Last season, KRW 1,000 bought a one-hour session with skate and helmet rental included. Knee pads were free to borrow, and lockers cost extra. Each session took 600 skaters. Half the spots were sold online at seoulskate.kr from seven days ahead, and the other half were sold at the rink on the day. On weekdays and Sundays there were eight sessions, the first at 10:00 and the last ending at 21:30. Saturdays and holidays added a ninth session from 22:00 to 23:00. On December 24 and 31 the hours were extended past midnight. Foreign visitors holding a Discover Seoul Pass skated for free. The rink can close because of air-pollution alerts, snow or rain, and people who booked ahead get a text message if it does. It is right outside City Hall Station (Lines 1, 2). The ticket office number last season was 1551-1407.

Lotte Town Christmas Market, Jamsil

Lotte says its large outdoor Christmas market at the Jamsil branch returns in mid-November 2026. The exact dates have not been published. Last year the market ran from November 19 to January 4 on World Park Plaza, the open square in front of Lotte World Mall. It had a 13-meter tree, a two-level carousel, artificial "snow showers" five times a day and about 50 street booths, plus a big dining tent. Entry was free during the day, but after 16:00 only people with paid tickets could get in. The first batch of weekend fast-pass tickets sold out in about 10 minutes. If you want to go in the evening this year, buy tickets as soon as they go on sale. Use Jamsil Station (Lines 2, 8).

A one-evening lights route

Once the city events open, you can walk past the central Seoul lights in about three hours:

1. 17:00 – Myeongdong. Start at Euljiro 1-ga Station, walk the Lotte light street, then head over to see the Shinsegae screen.
2. 18:00 – Seoul Plaza. It is about a 10-minute walk to City Hall. From mid-December, the ice rink should be open there.
3. 18:30 – Cheonggyecheon. Head north to the stream and follow the lanterns once the festival opens.
4. 19:30 – Gwanghwamun Square. Finish at the Christmas market and the media facade show, before the market closes.

Save Jamsil and The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido for separate trips, because they are on opposite sides of the city.

Good to know

• Go on a weeknight. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and December weekends are the busiest times at Gwanghwamun, Cheonggyecheon and Myeongdong. Monday to Thursday evenings are usually calmer.
• Dress for the cold. December evenings in Seoul often drop below freezing, and the open squares can be windy. Thin gloves that work with touchscreens help if you plan to take photos.
• Take the subway, not a taxi, in the city center on December 24 and 31. Roads near Gwanghwamun and Jonggak may close for events, including the New Year's Eve bell-ringing at Bosingak.
• Book early. The Hyundai Seoul's village and the Jamsil market's evening entry both need tickets bought in advance, and popular slots have sold out quickly in past years.
• Check the official listings. For city events, see Fun Seoul (festival.seoul.go.kr), the festival sites stolantern.com and winta.co.kr, and the Seoul city info line at 02-120. For the rink, check seoulskate.kr.

FAQ

When does the Gwanghwamun Christmas market open in 2026? As of October 31, 2026, the city lists it only as "December." Last year it ran December 12–31, so this year will probably be similar. Wait for the official announcement before you plan a trip around it.

Are Seoul's Christmas light festivals free? Yes, mostly. The Gwanghwamun market, the Seoul Light show, the Cheonggyecheon lanterns and the department store facades have all been free, and you pay only for what you buy. The ice rink cost KRW 1,000 per session last season. The Jamsil market charged for entry after 16:00.

Where can I see Christmas lights in Seoul in November? Go to Myeongdong first. Lotte's display is already on, and Shinsegae's film starts November 6. The Hyundai stores at the Trade Center and Apgujeong, the indoor village at The Hyundai Seoul (from November 10) and the Jamsil market (from mid-November) all open before the city festivals.

Do I need a reservation for The Hyundai Seoul Christmas village? Yes. Entry is by advance booking only, and foreign visitors have their own booking and waiting list. As of October 31, the 2026 booking dates had not been announced.