The 2025 Seoul Lantern Festival invites you to experience "My Light, Our Dream, the Magic of Seoul" along Cheonggyecheon and Ui streams.
Picture yourself walking along a gently flowing stream in the heart of Seoul, surrounded by hundreds of glowing lanterns that paint the winter night in shades of gold, crimson, and sapphire blue. The cold December air carries the scent of roasted chestnuts and sweet hotteok, while the laughter of families and couples mingles with traditional Korean melodies drifting from nearby speakers. This is not a scene from a dream — this is Seoul during its most magical season.
Every winter, Seoul transforms into a wonderland of light and celebration, and 2025 promises to be the most spectacular yet. For the first time, two of the city's most beloved winter events — the Seoul Lantern Festival and the Gwanghwamun Christmas Market — are running in perfect harmony, creating a seamless winter experience that stretches from the historic Gwanghwamun Square to the serene waters of Cheonggyecheon Stream.
In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through everything you need to know to make the most of these enchanting festivals — from the best photo spots to insider tips that only locals know.
🎪 What Are These Festivals?
Seoul Lantern Festival (서울빛초롱축제)
The Seoul Lantern Festival, known locally as Seoul Bitchorong Chukje, is Seoul's signature winter light festival that has been illuminating the city since 2009. Now in its 17th edition, this beloved celebration attracts over 2 million visitors each year, including hundreds of thousands of international tourists.
The festival features hundreds of traditional hanji (Korean paper) lanterns and cutting-edge LED installations that transform Cheonggyecheon Stream into a flowing gallery of light and art. Each lantern is meticulously handcrafted, many by master artisans who have dedicated their lives to preserving this centuries-old Korean tradition.
2025 Theme: "My Light, Our Dream, the Magic of Seoul" (나의 빛, 우리의 꿈, 서울의 마법)
This year's theme celebrates the collective dreams of Seoul's citizens while honoring the city's rich cultural heritage. The festival has expanded to include Ui Stream for the first time, adding 350 meters of additional display space and making this the most content-rich edition in the festival's history.
Gwanghwamun Christmas Market (광화문 크리스마스 마켓)
Welcome to Santa Village — Seoul's most enchanting Christmas destination.
Just a short walk from the lantern-lit stream, Gwanghwamun Square hosts Seoul's premier Christmas market — a European-style winter wonderland that has quickly become one of the city's most anticipated seasonal attractions.
Now in its 4th year, the Gwanghwamun Christmas Market drew an impressive 1.64 million visitors last winter and supported over 140 small businesses. This year's concept, "Santa Village in a Winter Fairy Tale" (겨울동화 속 산타마을), transforms the square into a magical village complete with wooden chalets, a 15-meter illuminated Christmas tree, and a charming Rudolph carousel.
The market was developed with consultation from Copenhagen Christmas Market organizers, bringing authentic European Christmas market traditions to the heart of Seoul.
✨ Festival Highlights You Can't Miss
🏮 Traditional Hanji Lantern Procession (시등의 순간)
One of the most breathtaking displays at the Seoul Lantern Festival is the traditional Korean royal procession recreated entirely in glowing hanji lanterns. Life-sized figures dressed in Joseon-era court attire stand in the shallow waters of Cheonggyecheon, their vibrant colors reflecting off the surface to create a mesmerizing double image.
Royal court figures in traditional hanbok come alive as illuminated lanterns, with a media screen in the background showing seasonal scenes of Korean palaces.
These figures represent various members of the royal court — from the king and queen to scholars, musicians, and guards. The craftsmanship is extraordinary; each figure takes weeks to create using traditional paper-making techniques passed down through generations.
📸 Photo Tip: The best time to capture these lanterns is during "blue hour" — about 30 minutes after sunset when the sky still has a deep blue color. This creates a stunning contrast with the warm golden glow of the lanterns.
Best Time to Experience: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location within Festival: Cheonggyecheon Stream, near Gwangtong Bridge
🌈 Gat Lanterns (갓등)
One of the most Instagram-worthy installations at this year's festival, the Gat Lanterns pay homage to Korea's traditional scholar hats in a surprisingly contemporary way. These striking light sculptures are inspired by the gat — the iconic black horsehair hat worn by Joseon Dynasty scholars — which recently gained global recognition through the Netflix animated series "K-Pop Demon Hunters" (케이팝 데몬 헌터스).
Rows of gat-shaped lanterns in vibrant rainbow colors float on Cheonggyecheon Stream, blending Joseon-era tradition with modern K-culture aesthetics.
The series reintroduced the traditional gat as a trendy, hip symbol of Korean culture to audiences worldwide. Now, these lanterns bring that fusion of old and new to life — traditional Korean heritage reimagined through a global, contemporary lens. The colorful gradient stretching across the water creates a mesmerizing visual that perfectly captures the festival's theme of bridging tradition and modernity.
📸 Photo Tip: Use a slow shutter speed (around 1-2 seconds) to capture the soft color transitions as the lanterns cycle through their spectrum.
Best Time to Experience: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location within Festival: Near Samil Bridge section
🗺️ Five Themed Zones Along Cheonggyecheon
The 2025 Seoul Lantern Festival is organized into five distinct themed zones, each offering a unique visual experience:
A bird's-eye view showing the different themed zones stretching along Cheonggyecheon Stream — from traditional palace lanterns to whimsical cartoon characters and global landmarks.
Zone 1 — Miracle Seoul (서울의 기적)
This zone blends traditional hanji lanterns with media art to depict Seoul's evolution — from the first electric lights at Gyeongbokgung Palace to early trams and imagined future skylines. Look for the stunning LED recreation of Gwanghwamun Gate that serves as the zone's centerpiece.
Zone 2 — Golden Secret (황금의 비밀)
Featuring the rainbow gat lanterns and K-culture themed installations, this zone reinterprets Korean lifestyle through the lens of social media buzzwords and contemporary memes. It's the most playful section of the festival.
Zone 3 — World Dream (세계의 꿈)
Global landmarks rendered in lantern form — from the Statue of Liberty to Big Ben — celebrate Seoul's connection to the wider world. This year features a special collaboration with Pokémon, including a 7.3-meter Gyarados carrying Pikachu!
Zone 4 — Future Fantasy (미래 환상)
Whimsical cartoon characters and fantastical creatures populate this child-friendly zone. Whales, sea creatures, and mythical beings seem to swim through the air, created with a combination of traditional lanterns and animated LED displays.
Zone 5 — Ui Stream Extension (NEW for 2025)
The festival expands to Ui Stream for the first time, adding 350 meters of additional installations with a focus on nature themes and community participation lanterns.
🛍️ Artisan Craft Booths
One of the most charming aspects of the Gwanghwamun Market is the opportunity to support local Korean small businesses. Each booth is carefully curated to offer unique, handcrafted items that you won't find anywhere else.
Visitors browse handcrafted jewelry, winter accessories, and artisan goods at the warmly lit wooden market stalls.
Popular items include:
- Handmade jewelry and accessories
- Korean pottery and ceramics
- Hanji crafts and paper art
- Natural skincare products
- Wool and knit items perfect for winter
- Holiday ornaments and decorations
- Artisan chocolates and confections
The market rotates vendors across three seasons, so if you visit multiple times, you'll discover new artisans and products each week.
💡 Insider Tip: Many vendors accept only cash or Korean mobile payment (KakaoPay, NaverPay). Bring sufficient won — ATMs are available at nearby Gwanghwamun Station.
📸 Santa's Photo Studio
No visit to the Gwanghwamun Market is complete without a photo with Santa Claus himself! The market features an elaborately decorated photo zone where visitors can capture magical holiday memories.
Santa Claus welcomes visitors at the Gwanghwamun Market photo zone, surrounded by Christmas trees, wreaths, and festive decorations in classic red and green.
Additional photo spots throughout the market include:
- Nutcracker House — Life-sized nutcracker soldiers flank a gingerbread-style cottage
- Teddy Bear Studio — Giant teddy bears in winter attire
- Gingerbread Cookie House — A whimsical recreation of a holiday sweet shop
- Romantic Light Tunnel — Perfect for couples
📸 Photo Tip: Visit on weekday evenings (Monday-Thursday) for shorter lines at popular photo spots. Weekend waits can exceed 30 minutes.
🗺️ Festival Map & Navigation
Detailed map of the Gwanghwamun Market showing all major attractions: the entrance gate, carousel, vendor booths, Christmas tree, photo spots, and landmarks including the King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin statues.
Key Landmarks (from the map):
1. 산타마을 입구 (Santa Village Entrance) – Main entrance gate, info booth
2. 회전목마 (Carousel) – Rudolph carousel ride
3. 서로장터 (Seoro Market) – Main vendor booths
4. 트리 (Christmas Tree) – 15m illuminated tree
5. 산타마을 초대전 (Santa Village Exhibition) – Special exhibitions
6. 먹거리 (Food Zone) – Hot drinks, snacks
7. 포토부스 (Photo Booth) – Santa & themed photos
8. 세종대왕 동상 (King Sejong Statue) – Historic landmark
9. 충무공 이순신 동상 (Admiral Yi Sun-sin Statue) – Historic landmark
🎯 Experiences & Activities for Visitors
Both festivals offer numerous hands-on experiences that go beyond simply viewing the displays:
1. DIY LED Ornament Making – 30 min / ₩5,000 / Walk-in OK
2. Snowman Mood Lantern Craft – 45 min / ₩10,000 / Walk-in OK
3. Santa Claus Flower Norigae – 40 min / ₩10,000 / Walk-in OK
4. Traditional Hanji Lantern Workshop – 60 min / ₩15,000 / Recommended reservation
5. Rudolph Carousel Ride – 5 min / ₩3,000 / Walk-in OK
6. Wish Lantern Experience – 15 min / ₩8,000 / Walk-in OK
💡 Pro Tip: Workshops are most popular on weekends between 6-8 PM. Arrive early or visit on weekdays for shorter waits.
📋 Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
📅 When to Visit
Seoul Lantern Festival
Festival Period: December 12, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Hours: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM daily
Gwanghwamun Christmas Market
Festival Period: December 12, 2025 – December 31, 2025
Hours: 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM (extended to midnight on Dec 31)
Best Days to Visit: Weekday evenings (Monday–Thursday) for smaller crowds
Peak Hours: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM on Friday/Saturday
Recommended Visit Duration: 2-3 hours for each festival; 4-5 hours for both combined
📍 Location & How to Get There
Cheonggyecheon Stream (Lantern Festival)
Address: Cheonggye Plaza, 1 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Nearest Station: Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5), Exit 5 — 5 min walk
Gwanghwamun Square (Christmas Market)
Address: 175 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Nearest Station: Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5), Exit 2 — 3 min walk