Best Guide To Winter Festivals in Korea (2024)

If you’re planning a winter trip to Seoul, there are many fun activities to participate in. In this post, you’ll find the best winter festivals in Korea.

So why should you listen to me compared to other bloggers? Well, I lived in South Korea almost six years and I travel back almost every year to make sure my blog is up to date.

South Korea has its own unique winter culture and I can’t wait to show you how much fun you’ll have despite the cold weather.

Table of Contents

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Winter is Strawberry Season in Korea

Korean strawberries taste like candy, and they are ELITE. Sorry, not sorry, but you’re not gonna change my mind on this.

This fruit is very sweet, high quality, and cost-competitive. Korean strawberries are grown in special cultivation beds with pollen-carrying bees helping pollination. During winter in Seoul, strawberry buffets are popular. My favorite is the Barbie Salon de Ddalki at the JW Marriott in Dongdaemun.

Recommended Afternoon Tea Strawberry Buffets in Seoul

Grand Hyatt Cherry Blossom Afternoon Tea
Sheraton Grand Walkerhill Seoul Strawberry Buffet
Park Hyatt Seoul Strawberry Afternoon Tea Set

Recommended Korean Strawberry Picking Tours

December Festivals in Korea

Bosingak Bell Ringing New Year’s Eve Festival
Busan Christmas Tree Cultural Festival
Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival
Garden Of Morning Calm Winter Illuminations
Haeundae Beach Lighting Festival
Pocheon Herb Island Light Festival
Lotte World Tower New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Pyeongchang Trout Ice Fishing Festival
Sanjeong Lake Sledding Festival
Seoul Lantern Festival
Seoul Winter Festa
Winter Strawberry Picking Festivals

Petite France Winter Festival | 쁘띠프랑스 겨울축제

When: TBA 2024

South Koreans love the story of the Little Prince. During winter Petite France in Gyeonggi has a winter illumination festival. It also does get pretty cold in December so check out my post on what to wear during winter in Korea.

Address: 1063 Hoban-ro, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do

Garden of The Morning Calm Lighting Festival | 아침고요수목원 오색별빛정원전

When: December 6, 2024 – March 13, 2025

The Garden of the Morning Calm Lighting Festival is an excellent day trip from Seoul. The festival venue is the entire botanic park and it truly is a Korean bucket list experience.

The natural beauty of the garden and laser show make this an unforgettable experience.

Address: 1632-1, Seogok-ri, Panbu-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do | 강원 원주시 판부면 용수골길 326

Haeundae Light Festival | 해운대 빛축제

When: TBA 2024 | December 2nd, 2023 – January 31st, 2024

December in Korea means the Haeundae Light Festival in Busan is back and better than ever. It’s one of the most popular places to enjoy the festive streets of Busan, with LED light displays, free concerts, and street performances.

Address: Haeundae Beach, U-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan |해운대해수욕장, 해운대광장, 해운대시장, 온천길 일원

Haeundae Polar Bear Fesival| 북극곰 수영대회

When: December 6, 2024 – December 8, 2024

Alas, Koreans know how to party as hard as the Chicagoans when it comes to the Polar Plunge in the Windy City. If you’re a glutton for masochism, join the Busan Polar Bears, by diving into the icy cold waters off Haeundae Beach at the 37th Polar Bear Swim!

Address: 47, Dalmaji-gil 62beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan

Seoul Lantern Festival | 서울빛초롱축제

When: December 13, 2024 – January 12, 2025

The Seoul Lantern Festival 2024 is back for its 16th year! Every year, the theme changes, and gorgeous lights are displayed among Cheonggyecheon Stream.

This year, it will be expanded to include Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggye Square, and Seoul Square. Come grab some street food in Myeongdong and check out the best Christmas lights in Seoul.

Seoul Winter Festa 2024 | 서울윈터페스타

When: December 13, 2024 – January 5, 2025

The Seoul Lantern Festival is part of the larger Seoul Winter Festa 2024. These light displays will show at the newly opened Gwanghwamun Square and Songhyeon Green Plaza.

There’s also the impressive Dongdaemun Design Plaza where you can enjoy digital light displays. You’ll find seven locations across the city to light up the winter nights.

Hangang River Winter Festival | 한강페스티벌 겨울

When: December 20, 2024 – December 25th, 2024

Every winter, the Hangang River Festival features a Christmas market, light sculptures, cute photo zones, holiday music performances, and an exciting snow sledding area. International visitors will truly get a feel for Seoul culture with this festival.

Address: Various Han River Parks in Seoul

Sanjeong Lake Ice Sledding Festival | 포천 산정호수 썰매축제

When: TBA 2024 | December 21, 2023 – February 9, 2024

The Sanjeong Lake Sledding Festival in Korea is such a cool one! Have you ever dreamed about going on a rubber duck sled over thick ice?

It’s located in the valley between Myeongseong Mountain and Mangbong Mountain. The lake attracts a number of people every year and is a popular local sledding location.

Address: 104, Sanjeongho Lake-ro 411beon-gil, Yeongbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 포천시 영북면 산정호수로411번길 104

Boseong Tea Plantation Light Festival | 보성차밭 빛축제

When: TBA for 2024 / 2025, usually for the month of December

Located in Jeollanam-do, the Boseong Green Tea Plantation is lovely every season, but during December in Korea, the entire plantation becomes a festive winter illumination wonderland.

Address: 775, Nokcha-ro, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do | 전라남도 보성군 보성읍 녹차로 775

Pyeongchang Trout Ice Fishing Festival | 평창송어축제

When: TBA 2025 | December 22, 2023 – January 28, 2024

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival takes place right in the heart of where the 2018 Winter Olympics were held. Similar to the Hwacheon Ice Festival, you can catch your own trout and have them bad boys cooked right in front of you.

The clear waters of Pyeongchang make it the largest trout producer in South Korea. The main attraction for the brave is barehanded fishing.

Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival | 칠갑산얼음분수축제

When: TBA 2025 | December 23, 2023 – February 28, 2024

The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival is one of the most popular ice festivals. This festival features snow and ice sculptures.

It is located in the Alps Village in Chungcheongnam-do. Winter Korean festivals are all about celebrating the seasons.

Pocheon Herb Island Light Festival | 포천 허브아일랜드

When: All Year Round

This is one of the most popular festivals in Korea for giving you that Santa’s Village feel. The Pocheon Herb Island Light Festival features a beautiful botanical garden boasting approximately 82 acres of land with Mediterranean herbs.

The entire garden gets a makeover during Christmas and the winter season. The venue is decorated with twinkling lights, turning into the most romantic place on earth!

Address: 234 Art valley-ro, Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Eobi Ice Valley

The Eobi Ice Valley is a fantastic winter destination in South Korea. The area is famous for its enchanting ice walls that make the perfect photo backdrop.

Most people go to take pictures of the magical frozen waterfall. They also visit other popular nearby winter destinations, such as Nami Island, Gangchon Rail Bike, Alpaca World, and more! Trazy does an assortment if different tours so pick the one that tickles your fancy.

New Year’s Eve in Seoul

A popular New Year’s dish to eat is Tteokguk aka rice cake soup. Since the rice in the soup is shaped like coins, it is said to bring good luck and wealth in the coming year.

Global Seoulmates New Year’s Eve Party

When: December 31, 2024

Let me tell you, my friends… The Global Seoulmates New Year’s Eve Party is the BEST one in Seoul.

In 2020, I stayed out all night, ate morning kabobs while squatting on the corner, and barfed before I went on the train Korean style. That was the last time I went that hard and I promise I’m way too old for this shit.

This party featured dancing acts, acrobats, and amazing DJs. And my favorite part? A shit ton of friends and I booked a VIP booth which had us going on the balcony of the floating islands and watching the New Year’s fireworks over the Han River.

Bosingak Bell Ringing New Year’s Eve Festival 2024

When: December 31, 2024

The Bosingak Bell ringing is part of a grand ceremony presented by the mayor of Seoul. At the stroke of midnight, people will crowd around the gigantic bell in the Buddhist shrine for the New Year. You’ll see hundreds of balloons fly into the sky and people cheering.

Lotte World Tower New Year’s Eve Fireworks

When: December 31, 2024

The world’s sixth tallest building puts on a show like no other. For the New Year’s festivities, the entire tower is lit up with colorful lights and fireworks shooting off in all directions. They shoot off 555 seconds worth of fireworks to commemorate the 555-meter skyscraper. This New Year’s Seoul countdown starts at 8:30 pm with performances and activities before the main event at midnight.

Achasan Sunrise Festival | 아차산 해맞이

When: December 31st, 2024 – January 1st, 2025

In South Korea, the first sunrise of the new year is special. The Achasan Sunrise Festival is easy to access using public transport, and it takes just 15 minutes to hike up to Sunrise Peak.

Address: 127, Walkerhill-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 광진구 워커힐로 127 (광장동)

Seongsan Sunrise Festival | 제주성산일출축제

When: December 31st, 2024 – January 1st, 2025

Jeju’s premier sunrise is at the Seongsan Ilchubong (Sunrise Peak) on Jeju Island. This is one of Jeju’s gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage sites, renowned for a magnificent sunrise that peaks over an ancient volcanic Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone.

Address: 284-12, Ilchul-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do | 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 성산읍 일출로 284-12 (성산읍)