Seoul goes all in for Christmas. Department stores turn into winter villages, public squares fill up with market stalls, and whole buildings light up after dark. If you’re visiting Seoul with kids in December, these are the Christmas markets and events worth knowing about this year, with dates, opening hours and the nearest subway station for each.
Dates come from each organizer’s announcements and local news as of November 2026. Some details, especially hours and ticket prices, are still being confirmed, so check the official channel before you go.
2026 Christmas Events in Seoul at a Glance
| Event | Dates | Area | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinsegae Holiday Market (Gangnam) | Oct 30 to Dec 28 | Gangnam | Free entry |
| Shinsegae Holiday Market (Main Store) | Nov 24 to Dec 31 | Myeongdong | Free entry |
| Shinsegae Christmas Media Facade | Nov 6 to Jan 31 | Myeongdong | Free |
| Tom’s Friends Town Square | Oct 31 to Jan 3 | Yeongdeungpo | Free to walk in |
| Christmas in New York City (The Hyundai) | Nov 10 to Dec 31 | Yeouido | Reservation needed |
| Lotte Town Christmas Market | Nov 19 to Jan 3 | Jamsil | Check (paid after 4 pm last year) |
| Gwanghwamun Market | Dec 11 to Jan 10 | Gwanghwamun | Free last year |
| Seoul Light DDP: Winter’s Gift | From Dec 17 | Dongdaemun | Free |
| Romantic Han River Christmas Market | Dec 24 to 27 | Ttukseom | Free last year |
1. Shinsegae Holiday Markets (Gangnam and Myeongdong)
Shinsegae Department Store runs a Christmas market at two of its Seoul stores, each on different dates, so you can pick the one closest to where you’re staying.
- Gangnam, B1 Sweet Park: Oct 30 to Dec 28. Express Bus Terminal Station (Lines 3, 7 and 9)
- Main Store, Myeongdong: Nov 24 to Dec 31. Hoehyeon Station (Line 4)
Opening dates match across several news reports, but the closing dates come from fewer sources, so double-check before a late-December visit.
2. Shinsegae Christmas Media Facade (Myeongdong)
Every night, the outside wall of Shinsegae’s main store in Myeongdong turns into a giant screen. This year’s Christmas film runs about 3 minutes 40 seconds and follows a bear carrying Christmas wishes on a journey to an ice castle.
- Dates: Nov 6, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027
- Hours: 5 pm to midnight, with background music from 5 pm to 10 pm
- Where: Shinsegae Department Store Main Store, Jung-gu
- Getting there: Hoehyeon Station (Line 4)
- Cost: Free
Go after dark, and before 10 pm if you want the music too. Myeongdong is also close to City Hall and Gwanghwamun, where a lot of Seoul’s year-end events happen, which makes it a handy area to stay over the holidays.
Good to know from last year: In 2024, more than 40,000 people a day packed Myeongdong around 6 pm when the Christmas film played. Popular photo spots are in front of Seoul Central Post Office, Exit 1 of Hoehyeon Underground Shopping Center, and the second floor of the Starbucks in the post office building. This year the city also swapped the railing at the Central Post Office underpass for clear glass, so photos are easier from there. Visitors say the crowd thins out after the department store closes.
Our experience: With our kids, it’s usually too cold and too crowded to stand and watch, so every year we drive past slowly and enjoy it from the car.
3. Tom’s Friends Town Square at Times Square (Yeongdeungpo)
- Dates: Oct 31, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027
- Where: Times Square, 1F Atrium, Yeongdeungpo
- Getting there: Yeongdeungpo Station (Line 1)
The Christmas market lineup changes every week, so it feels a little different each time you go. It’s all indoors, which helps on a freezing day. If your kids like animals, Zoolung Zoolung indoor zoo is in the same area.
4. Christmas in New York City at The Hyundai Seoul (Yeouido)
The Hyundai Seoul’s Christmas village is one of the most popular photo spots in the city. This year the theme is New York in the 1980s and 90s, with red brick buildings up to 10 m tall, big street signs and yellow taxis.
- Dates: Nov 10 to Dec 31 (closed Nov 26 and Dec 18)
- Where: The Hyundai Seoul, 5F Sounds Forest
- Getting there: Yeouido Station (Lines 5 and 9)
- Booking: Reservations open on The Hyundai’s app (The Hyundai Hi). Foreign visitors can also book through travel platforms like Klook, and there’s an on-site waiting desk for international visitors.
Book early. Last year the first round of reservations sold out in about 30 minutes. If you miss out, go in the morning: one visitor in 2024 arrived around 3 pm and found 180 groups already waiting.
5. Lotte Town Christmas Market (Jamsil)
- Dates: Nov 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027
- Hours: 11:30 am to 10 pm
- Where: World Park lawn, Lotte World Tower
- Concept: A 19th-century English Christmas
- Getting there: Jamsil Station (Lines 2 and 8)
Our experience: We’ve been to the Lotte market with our kids. It isn’t huge, but it was a lovely place to wander around together, with lots of cute little decorations and gifts to look at.
Last year, entry was free during the day and ₩5,000 (~$3.50) after 4 pm, with last entry at 9:30 pm. Timed tickets were sold on Naver and the fast-pass tickets sold out within minutes, so check this year’s rules before an evening visit. If you’re planning a Lotte World day in December too, read our Lotte World Magic Pass guide first. Christmas season and Korean school winter break are the park’s busiest weeks. Thinking of staying in the tower? Our SIGNIEL vs Conrad vs Four Seasons comparison has a section on Christmas stays.
6. Gwanghwamun Market
- Dates: Dec 11, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027
- Where: Gwanghwamun Square and around Sejongno Park
- Getting there: Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5)
Christmas decorations and food stalls, global collaboration booths, and immersive photo and activity zones. Last year it ran in the evenings, from 5:30 pm to 10 pm, and entry was free. Cheonggyecheon Stream is a short walk away, and its winter lantern festival usually runs around the same time.
Good to know from last year: It was busiest on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and weekend evenings from about 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Most booths took cards, but a few were cash only, so bring a little cash just in case.
Our plan this year: Now that our kids are a bit older, we’re going to give Gwanghwamun Market a try this year.
7. Seoul Light DDP: Winter’s Gift (Dongdaemun)
- Dates: From Dec 17, 2026, running into the New Year’s Eve countdown (end date to be announced)
- Where: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
- Getting there: Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Lines 2, 4 and 5)
- Cost: Free
This winter’s show is called Winter’s Gift, with the theme K-Iconic Light. DDP’s huge curved outer wall, about 222 m long, becomes one big media art show. It runs into the New Year’s Eve countdown on Dec 31, which draws tens of thousands of people. Last year the shows ran from about 6 pm to 9:30 pm; this year’s times are still to be announced.
8. Romantic Han River Christmas Market (Ttukseom)
- Dates: Dec 24 to 27
- Hours: 1 pm to 9 pm
- Where: Event plaza, Ttukseom Hangang Park
- Getting there: Jayang (Ttukseom Hangang Park) Station, Line 7, Exit 3
Market stalls, food trucks, a carousel, a giant tree and Santa’s post office, right on the river over the Christmas weekend. Entry was free last year. If it’s cold enough, Ttukseom also runs a winter sledding area: see our Han River sledding guide.
Christmas in Seoul: What Foreign Visitors Should Know
- Most of Seoul stays open on Christmas Day. Dec 25 is a public holiday, but department stores, most restaurants and cafes, the subway and theme parks all run as normal. Banks, post offices and government offices close, and some small independent restaurants take the day off.
- Book Christmas dinners early. Popular restaurants are often fully booked about a month ahead for Dec 24 and 25, and just walking in on the day rarely works. Many places take bookings through Catch Table.
- Christmas Eve is a date night. In Korea, Dec 24 is more about couples than family, so shopping streets and popular restaurants get very busy that evening.
- Naver bookings can be tricky. Some events take reservations through Naver, which can be hard to use without a Korean phone number. Look for an English or Klook option first, like The Hyundai Seoul offers this year.
- Check hours before you go. For small cafes and restaurants, check Naver Map or Instagram for holiday hours.
Tips for Christmas in Seoul with Kids
- Go on a weekday if you can. December weekends are packed, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the busiest days at every event.
- Light shows need darkness. It’s dark by about 5:30 pm in late December, so plan the facade and DDP for the evening.
- Book the popular ones early. The Hyundai Seoul uses reservations, and Lotte’s market sold timed tickets last year.
- Dress for the cold. Evenings drop below freezing. Our winter in Korea with kids guide covers how to layer.
FAQ
When do Christmas markets open in Seoul in 2026?
The first one, Shinsegae’s market in Gangnam, opened on Oct 30. Most others open between mid-November and mid-December, and several run into early January.
Are Christmas markets in Seoul free?
Most are free to enter. The Hyundai Seoul needs a reservation, and Lotte’s market charged for evening entry last year.
Which Christmas events are open on Christmas Day?
The Han River Christmas Market (Dec 24 to 27), the Shinsegae media facade, Lotte Town Christmas Market, Gwanghwamun Market and Seoul Light DDP are all scheduled to be open on Dec 25.
Where should I stay in Seoul for Christmas?
Myeongdong is a good base. You can walk to the Shinsegae facade and holiday market, and City Hall and Gwanghwamun are close by.
Event dates and hours can change. Please check each event’s official channel before you go.
Planning more of your trip? Winter in Korea with Kids: What to Wear, What’s Fun and What to Skip
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