Merriest Festivals Reopening for Christmas

Ina Choe | December 12, 2022

Illustration courtesy: Yeonjae Lee

​SEOUL LANTERN FESTIVAL (DECEMBER 16 - 31, 2022)

Celebrated in Cheonggyecheon for the past 14 years, the Seoul Lantern Festival is held annually and is recognized as one of the main cultural events of Seoul in the winter season. Every year, many crowd into Gwanghwamun Square to witness large paper lanterns and LED sculptures illuminating the Cheonggyecheon stream with bright and festive colors. The lanterns are decorated according to the annual theme of the festival. Last year, the theme was "Forest of Healing, the colors of Seoul," and everyone is excited to see what this year's theme is going to be! Partic- pants also launch their own paper lanterns onto the stream. Overall, the Seoul Lantern Festival is a cheerful, healing, and festive event that is great to participate in with families and friends.

GARDEN OF MORNING CALM LIGHT FESTIVAL (DECEMBER 9, 2022 - MARCH 19, 2023)

Located in Gapyeong, the Garden of Morning Calm Light Festival is known to be the first event to create a scenery combining LED lights with natural surroundings. The garden is especially popular during winter nights, displaying trees and flowers wrapped in colorful lights, brightened by the white snow. The trees, plants, and flowers are featured alongside artworks, making them popular spots for taking pictures. The romantic scenery is a beautiful location to connect with nature while feeling the warmth of the winter night from the colorful, festive lights.

MARKETS: NAMDAEMUN, DONGDAEMUN, AND GANGNAM EXPRESS BUS TERMINAL

There's always room for more Christmas decorations, gadgets, and treats! The Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, and Gangnam Express Bus Terminal markets will be bustling with crowds excited to buy the last of their tree ornaments and presents near Christmas time. These markets are some of the best places in Seoul to get unique, charming, and inexpensive decorations. Namdaemun and Dongdaemun markets are also known for their street food, selling Korean food such as hotteok, tteokbokki, and dakkochi, perfect to warm you up during the cold winter season. Now that the pandemic has died down, these underground and street markets are bustling, and will undoubtedly reclaim their popularity during the Christmas season.

LOTTE WORLD MIRACLE WINTER (NOVEMBER 19 - DECEMBER 31, 2022) & EVERLAND WINTER WISHES (DECEMBER 1, 2022 - MARCH 1, 2023)

Most amusement parks in Korea hold winter festivals, but the most popular two are "Lotte World's Miracle Winter" and "Ever- land's Winter Wishes." Both parks launch their winter-themed parades, performances, and festivals, all celebrating Christmas. Lotte World and Everland feature a brilliant display of fireworks, attracting families and friends of all ages. Both are entertaining and magical places to visit, especially for younger children when the winter parades and decorations are hung up.

PETITE FRANCE

Inspired by the popular novella The Little Prince, Petite France is a mini-French village popular amongst tourists and Korean citizens for a taste of European culture while residing in Korea. There are multiple parks, markets, museums, galleries, and shops decorated with Christmas lights and decor in time for the winter. As this village neighbors the Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong, many choose to visit both during the winter holidays. The marionettes, puppets, and magic performances all provide a new taste of a French Christmas in Korea.