2025 Seoul Lantern Festival Celebration Guide

Hundreds of LED lights combined with various shapes of traditional Korean paper lanterns, the Seoul Lantern Festival can be one of the highlights during your winter trip to South Korea. From the latest date in 2025 to the best ways for celebration, below is your ultimate guide to enjoying the lantern festival in Seoul.

When is the Seoul Lantern Festival 2025

The Seoul Lantern Festival in 2025 will fall from December 12, 2025, to January 11, 2026 (Exact Dates TBD).

Usually lasts for about 3 weeks, this lantern festival in Seoul is quite a long winter fest, even coinciding with the New Year and Christmas in Korea.

The superior festival atmosphere brings a higher popularity for the light festival along the Cheonggyecheon Stream, making an extension into late January also common to see in recent years.

What is the Seoul Lantern Festival

Just as the name suggests, it is a lantern and light festival in central Seoul. Hosted along the Cheonggye Plaza and Cheonggyecheon, you can see a huge exhibition of Korean traditional hanji paper lanterns featuring different shapes and themes, while dotted with colorful LED lights that make the lanterns and the night as fantastic as charming.

Moreover, this cultural and modern Seoul Lantern Festival is a free ticketed event, and one of the most popular programs in the Seoul Winter Festa to celebrate the winter night and the coming new year.

Another lantern festival in Korea

Another light festival you may attend in Seoul is the Lotus Lantern Festival, which celebrates Buddha's birthday. It is a national spring event, yet the Jongno District in Seoul, with the biggest celebration - highlighted by its grand parade and cultural experiences from May 16 to 17, 2026, as well as the lantern exhibition in mid-April.

Paper Goldfish Lanterns

What to Do During the Seoul Lantern Festival

Capture Various Korean Lanterns

The vibrant lantern in various shapes and colors is the top highlight of the light festival. Stretches from Cheonggye Plaza to Samilgyo Bridge, this 1.3 km long area showcases not only the Korean royal procession but also those global landmarks by paper lanterns and LED display, not to mention those vivid classic cartoon characters in life-size, as well as those man-shaped lanterns reveal the K-pop idols, K-drama scenes, and the simple daily life of Korean - prepare your camera for the fancy night!

Enjoy a Night Stroll Along the Cheonggyecheon

The Cheonggyecheon is the best place for lantern watching, while the night stroll here can be one of the best ways to enjoy them all. You can start from the Cheonggye Plaza for a round trip to capture the lanterns on both sides, or walk a little further till the Dongdaemun Station, a popular night stroll line favored by locals. If the events at Gwanghwamun are also your target, make the Samilgyo Bridge your starting point.

• For lantern viewing: Cheonggye Plaza - Samilgyo Bridge - Cheonggye Plaza
• For a further night stroll: Cheonggye Plaza - Dongdaemun Station - Cheonggye Plaza
• For Gwanghwamun visit: Samilgyo Bridge - Cheonggye Plaza - Gwanghwamun

Cheonggyecheon at Night

Try Some Korean Street Food

While there is a fest, there is no distance to the food stalls. So does the Seoul Lantern Festival, an outdoor event that requires some food and energy to stay warm during the chilly night. You can try some toasty snacks like Gyeranppang (sweet-and-savory egg bread) and Bungeo-ppang (fish-shaped pastry). Don't miss the Tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) if you are used to spicy food.

There is also no shortage of cafes and restaurants alongside the river for your rest.

Join the DIY Experiences

This long-period winter lantern festival in Seoul also offers many experiential activities. From Christmas LED decoration making to raising the festival atmosphere, to some Korean handicraft DIY with pearls and clothes as your unique souvenir. If you are not in a hurry, register for flower embroidery or the hanji paper lantern guided by the local craftsman.

Other Activities to Enjoy during the Seoul Winter Festival

Watch the Gwanghwamun Light Show

About a 6-minute walk from Cheonggye Plaza, you will arrive at the iconic Gwanghwamun with media art displays against the ancient gate. You can feel the technique and traditional blending through the mix of light and sound, or share your wishes on the LED wish ball, which can be hung on the wall like a shining star.

Explore the Gwanghwamun Market

After the light shows, there is also a Christmas market around Gwanghwamun Square that you can explore - from handcrafted stuff to seasonal decorations, head to the Sejong-ro Park Area (about a 3-minute walk from Gwanghwamun Square) for your preferred goods, souvenirs, or to meet Santa Claus.

Ice Skate at Seoul Plaza

Winter in Korea is the season for skiing and ice skating, and after a 5-minute walk to Seoul City Hall, you will find the full moon Seoul Plaza transformed into an open-air skating rink, where both beginners and advanced skaters can enjoy the winter fun.

How to Get to the Seoul Lantern Festival Venue

Hosted around the Cheonggyecheon Stream, in central Seoul, it is not difficult to get to the venue of the Seoul Lantern Festival.

You can start from Seoul Station, the convenient transport hub, which is only a 3-minute drive from the Cheonggye Plaza.

For public transport, the closest stations around the venue are Gwanghwamun Station (closer to Cheonggye Plaza) and Jonggak Station (closer to Samilgyo Bridge), yet both are a 5-minute walk to the venue.

Where to Stay During the Seoul Lantern Festival

A stay along the Cheonggyecheon Stream or around the Gwanghwamun is highly recommended, with the most convenient access to the venue, and most importantly, with a simple draw to the curtains, you can join the lively festival atmosphere.

Accommodation around the Seoul Station is also a good option, with a quick reach within 10 minutes.

Other Korean Festivals You May Also Like

• Lotus Lantern Festival: the spring lantern festival that celebrates Buddha's birthday, apart from the lantern displays, it is highlighted by the grand parade in Seoul, and with more cultural events like lantern making to experience the Korean traditions.
• Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival: a January ice fishing festival for trout to enjoy the winter fun (about a 2.5-hour drive from Seoul), including plenty of ice activities like ice sledding and soccer, which is a popular family and adventure choice.
• Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival: also known as the Jinju Lantern Festival, is an autumn festival that falls from October 4 to 19, 2025. Similar to the Water Lantern Festival in Thailand, it is also highlighted by floating lantern displays along the Namgang River.