Seoul Christmas Market 2026: Gwanghwamun Dates, Christmas Lights and Where to Go

The main Seoul Christmas market is the free, open-air Gwanghwamun Market on Gwanghwamun Square (광화문광장), part of the city’s Seoul Winter Festa. It has wooden stalls, a giant tree, a carousel and Gyeongbokgung Palace lit up behind it. Add the huge Christmas light shows on the department stores in Myeongdong and a few ticketed mall markets, and Seoul in December is one of the most festive cities in Asia. This guide covers the Seoul Christmas market 2026 season: dates, hours, subway exits, how to dodge the crowds and what to wear.

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Last checked: October 2026. Dollar figures use about 1,330 KRW = 1 USD (October 2026).

2026 dates: Seoul has not announced the 2026 Seoul Winter Festa or Gwanghwamun Market dates yet (as of October 18, 2026). Last year the city announced them in mid-November. The dates below are last year’s (2025) dates, and we will update this guide as soon as the 2026 schedule is out.

First time in Korea? Start here: our step-by-step guide from landing to your first day.

Seoul Christmas market 2026 at a glance

• Best overall: Gwanghwamun Market (광화문마켓) on Gwanghwamun Square. Free to walk in, evenings only. In 2025 it ran December 12–31, 5:30–9:30 pm (until midnight on December 31).
• Best lights: the giant LED screens on Shinsegae Department Store’s main store and Lotte Department Store’s main store in Myeongdong. Free, every evening from November to January.
• Best “European-style” mall market: Lotte Town Christmas Market at Lotte World Tower in Jamsil. Popular, and evening entry needed a timed ticket last year.
• Best indoor option: the Christmas village at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido (reservation needed in past years).
• Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday, so most Koreans get a three-day weekend (December 25–27). Expect the biggest crowds from Christmas Eve to Sunday.

Gwanghwamun Market (Seoul Winter Festa): the main Seoul Christmas market

Seoul Winter Festa (서울윈터페스타) is the city’s winter festival, and the Gwanghwamun Market is its centerpiece. In 2025 the city ran the festival from December 12, 2025 to January 4, 2026 across six sites: Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Seoul Plaza, DDP, Bosingak and Ui Stream. According to the city, about 10.98 million visits were counted over those 24 days, more than double the year before. So yes, it gets busy.

The 2025 market had a “Santa village” theme inspired by European Christmas markets. Korea Times counted three zones (a village entrance, a play plaza and the market itself), a 15-meter tree, a new Rudolph carousel, more than ten photo spots (a nutcracker house, a gingerbread house and a teddy bear studio) and about 100 small businesses selling in rotating runs. Expect seasonal decorations, handmade crafts, small gifts, and warm drinks and snacks. Brands also set up sponsored trees and tasting booths.

Walking around the market and watching the light shows costs nothing; you only pay for what you buy. Seoul Light Gwanghwamun projects a media facade show and interactive light displays onto the square, so stay until the screens start after dark. Sunset in Seoul in December is around 5:15 pm, which is why everything opens at 5:30.

Getting there: take Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station (광화문역). The station sits right under the square, and several exits come up onto it; follow the signs for Gwanghwamun Square (광화문광장). Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) is at the palace end of the square, and City Hall Station (Lines 1 and 2) is a 5–10 minute walk away. New to the metro? Our Seoul subway guide explains lines, transfers and fares, and you can pay with a T-money card.

Map — Gwanghwamun Square: Google Maps · Naver Map (Naver Map is still the most reliable app for walking, bus and subway directions in Korea)

Go in daylight first if you can: Gyeongbokgung Palace is at the top of the square, so a late-afternoon palace visit followed by the market at 5:30 pm makes an easy half day.

Also part of Winter Festa: Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Plaza and Bosingak

• Seoul Lantern Festival on Cheonggyecheon (청계천): In 2025 the festival ran along Cheonggyecheon and Ui Stream from December 12, with more than 400 light sculptures and media works between Cheonggye Plaza and Samil Bridge. Cheonggye Plaza is about five minutes on foot from the market, so it’s easy to do both in one evening.
• Seoul Plaza (서울광장) in front of City Hall: a big Christmas tree (in 2025 from November 17) and the 1,000 KRW ice rink. Half the rink tickets for each session were sold online from seven days before, and half on site. City Hall Station, Lines 1 and 2, exit 6 is right by the plaza.
• Bosingak (보신각) on New Year’s Eve: the midnight bell-ringing is Seoul’s main countdown. It’s extremely crowded and some roads close. If you only want the Christmas market, don’t go on December 31.

Seoul Christmas lights: the Myeongdong department store shows

If you search for “Seoul Christmas lights”, these are the photos you see. Two department stores face each other near Myeongdong and compete every year with giant LED screens.

• Shinsegae Department Store main store (신세계백화점 본점): the whole facade, a 1,354 m² screen called Shinsegae Square, plays a short Christmas film on a loop every evening. Last season it ran from November 7, 2025 to January 31, 2026, starting around 5 pm and running until late. Published end times ranged from 10:30 pm to midnight, so aim for before 10 pm. Free. Hoehyeon Station (Line 4), exit 7 is about 230 m away; from Myeongdong Station it’s a 10-minute walk.
• Lotte Department Store main store (롯데백화점 본점): across the road. For Christmas 2026, Lotte has announced a new 1,614 m² media facade covering the whole Young Plaza building, called “Lotte Town Light”, starting in December. It will be slightly bigger than Shinsegae’s screen. Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2) is next to the store.
• Myeongdong Cathedral (명동성당): a five-minute walk up the hill from Myeongdong Station (Line 4). The courtyard gets lit trees and a nativity scene, and it’s much calmer than the shopping street.

Best viewing spot: stand on the far side of the big intersection in front of Shinsegae (by the Bank of Korea Money Museum) to fit the whole screen in one photo. On weekends after 7 pm the pavement fills up, and police sometimes manage the crowd flow.

Map — Shinsegae Department Store main store: Google Maps · Naver Map (Naver Map is still the most reliable app for walking, bus and subway directions in Korea)

Myeongdong is also where most people shop. Before you head home, our Olive Young shopping list and Olive Young Seoul store guide cover the big Myeongdong branch. Carrying bags around before your flight? See Myeongdong luggage storage.

Other Christmas markets and spots in Seoul

• Lotte Town Christmas Market, Jamsil (롯데월드몰): in 2025 it ran November 20 to January 4 on the plaza between Lotte World Mall and Lotte World Tower, with a 13-meter tree, artificial snow showers five times a day, a two-story carousel and 51 booths. Daytime entry was free, but evening entry needed a timed ticket booked in advance through Naver Booking, and the first weekend slots sold out within minutes. Jamsil Station (Lines 2 and 8) connects to the mall. Address: 서울 송파구 올림픽로 300.
• The Hyundai Seoul, Yeouido (더현대 서울): an indoor Christmas village on the 5th floor (in 2025, “Atelier de Noël”, November 1 to December 31). Reservations were required. It’s warm, which helps on cold nights, and it’s near Yeouido Station (Lines 5 and 9). Address: 서울 영등포구 여의대로 108.
• Shinsegae Wonderland: small in-store Christmas markets at Shinsegae Myeongdong (4th floor) and Shinsegae Gangnam, running from November to December 30 in 2025.
• Starfield Library at COEX (별마당도서관): the giant bookshelves get a Christmas tree (in 2025 from November 13 to January 31, 10:30 am–10:30 pm). Samseong Station (Line 2), exit 5.

How to avoid the crowds

• Go on a weekday, right at opening (5:30–6:30 pm). The lights are on, the queues for the carousel and photo spots are short, and the after-work crowd hasn’t arrived yet.
• Skip Friday and Saturday evenings if you can, and especially December 24–27, 2026 (Christmas Eve plus the long weekend). If those are your only free nights, go early and see the Myeongdong lights afterwards, around 9 pm.
• Do the market and the lights on different nights, or do them in this order: Gwanghwamun (5:30 pm) → Cheonggyecheon walk → Myeongdong (9 pm). It’s about 25 minutes on foot or one short taxi ride.
• Book anything ticketed early. The Lotte and Hyundai events used online time slots last year, and the Seoul Plaza rink sold half its tickets online. Booking pages are usually Korean-first; Naver Booking needs a Naver account.
• Take the subway, not a taxi, on peak nights. Roads around Gwanghwamun and City Hall are slow in December, and taxis are hard to find after 10 pm.

What to wear: Seoul in December is cold

Seoul in December usually sits around freezing, with daytime highs of a few degrees above 0°C and nights often below 0°C (about 25–40°F). Gwanghwamun Square is wide and open, so the wind makes it feel colder. Our Korea weather by month guide has the details.

• A long padded coat (Koreans call it a “long padding”), a hat, gloves and a scarf. Thermal base layers make a big difference.
• Warm, waterproof shoes: you’ll be standing on stone paving for an hour or more.
• Hand warmers (핫팩, “hot pack”) are sold at every convenience store.
• Phone batteries drain fast in the cold, so carry a power bank. See our Korea packing list.

Where to eat and warm up nearby

• Gwanghwamun: Kyobo Bookstore’s flagship sits under the Kyobo Building on the square’s east side. It’s a warm place to browse and has cafés. Sejong Village Food Street (세종마을 음식문화거리), near Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3), is a lane of small Korean restaurants and bars, good for a hot stew or grilled fish after the market.
• Myeongdong: the street food stalls open in the late afternoon (try hotteok, the sweet filled pancake, and fish cake soup). For a sit-down meal, warm noodle and dumpling shops like Myeongdong Kyoja (명동교자) are a local favorite in winter, but expect a short queue.
• Payment: most stalls and restaurants take cards, but some small vendors prefer cash, so carry a few 10,000 KRW (~$8) notes. Our money in Korea guide covers cards, WOWPASS and cash.

Accessibility: strollers and wheelchairs

• Gwanghwamun Square is flat and paved, with wide walkways. Stalls are at ground level, so strollers and wheelchairs can get around easily, except at peak times.
• Elevators: Gwanghwamun, City Hall and Myeongdong stations all have elevators, but usually at only some exits. Check the exit with an elevator on Naver Map before you go.
• Cheonggyecheon is below street level. Use the ramps and elevators near Cheonggye Plaza instead of the steps.
• Myeongdong Cathedral sits up a slope. There’s a gentler path from the Myeongdong-gil side.
• Public restrooms are in the underground passages below Gwanghwamun Square and inside the subway stations.

Sample Christmas evening in Seoul

1. 3:30 pm — Gyeongbokgung Palace (last entry is earlier in winter).
2. 5:30 pm — Gwanghwamun Market opens: walk the stalls, take tree photos, ride the carousel.
3. 6:30 pm — Seoul Light Gwanghwamun shows, then walk down to Cheonggyecheon for the lanterns.
4. 7:30 pm — dinner near Jonggak or Euljiro.
5. 9:00 pm — the Shinsegae and Lotte light shows, then Myeongdong Cathedral.

Fitting this into a longer trip? See our Seoul itinerary and where to stay in Seoul. Myeongdong and Jongno hotels are within walking distance of all of the above. Heading to the slopes after Christmas? Try the ski resorts near Seoul.

FAQ

When is the Seoul Christmas market 2026?
The 2026 dates haven’t been announced yet (as of October 2026). Last year the Gwanghwamun Market ran December 12–31, 2025, as part of Seoul Winter Festa (December 12, 2025 – January 4, 2026). We’ll update this page when Seoul publishes the 2026 schedule.

Is the Gwanghwamun Christmas market free?
Yes. Entry to Gwanghwamun Square and the light shows is free; you only pay for food, drinks and things you buy. Some ticketed mall markets (like Lotte’s in Jamsil) charged for evening entry last year.

What time does the Seoul Christmas market open?
In 2025, the Gwanghwamun Market was open 5:30–9:30 pm daily, until midnight on December 31.

Where are the best Christmas lights in Seoul?
The Shinsegae and Lotte department store facades in Myeongdong, Gwanghwamun Square during Seoul Winter Festa, Cheonggyecheon Stream, and the trees at Seoul Plaza and Myeongdong Cathedral.

Is Christmas a big holiday in Korea?
Yes. Christmas Day is a public holiday, but it’s celebrated more like a date night for couples and friends than a family holiday. Shops and restaurants stay open, and the city is busiest on Christmas Eve.

Does it snow in Seoul in December?
Sometimes, but usually only light snow. Cold, dry and clear is more typical. A white Christmas is possible but far from guaranteed.

Sources: Seoul Metropolitan Government – 2025 Seoul Light Gwanghwamun and Gwanghwamun Market · Seoul Media Hub – 2025 Seoul Winter Festa opens (Dec 2025) · Seoul Media Hub – Seoul Plaza ice rink 2025–26 · Seoul Media Hub – Christmas hotspots 2025 · Newsis – Seoul Winter Festa visitor numbers (Jan 2026) · Korea Times – Gwanghwamun Market and lantern festival (Dec 2025) · Korea Times – Christmas markets in Korea (Nov 2025) · Korea JoongAng Daily – Lotte Young Plaza media facade (Jul 2026) · Kyunghyang Shinmun – department store Christmas 2025
Photos: Seoul Tourism Organization / Wikimedia Commons, KOGL Type 1 · Christian Bolz / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ken Eckert / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nat4Eben / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0