Halloween in Seoul is a super exciting time for Koreans and foreigners. It’s an opportunity to dress up in Korean halloween costumes, party with friends, and enjoy a Halloween parade in Korea. In this guide, you’ll learn how to celebrate Halloween in Korea. It includes places to buy a Halloween costume in Korea, Halloween events in Korea, and where to find a Halloween party in Seoul.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does Korea celebrate Halloween?

Do they celebrate halloween in Korea? Halloween in South Korea is mostly celebrated in Seoul. In recent years, Koreans have warmed up to throwing Halloween parties for their children at school or private academies. You’ll typically find a lot of Halloween decor at Seoul cafes and haunted houses at school festivals.

2. Do people trick-or-treat in Korea?

Trick-or-treating is mostly done for children in apartment complexes, at their schools, or at private academies. Halloween is celebrated on the American military bases

3. How to say Happy Halloween in Korean?

Easy! If you’re wondering how to say Happy Halloween in Korean, it is: 해피 할로윈!

4. How to say Halloween costume in Korean?

You can say 할로윈 복장. If you’re interested in learning Korean, get your free hangul cheat sheet here and learn the Korean alphabet in one afternoon.

5. Where can I find pumpkins in Korea?

In Korea, there is such a thing as sweet pumpkin 단호박 that is good for making pumpkin puree for PSL, pumpkin soup, and pumpkin pie. You can buy the crust on Coupang. You can’t get the big orange pumpkins here unless you have a friend on base.

6. When is Halloween in Korea?

Halloween in Korea is celebrated on October 31, 2023. Since it falls on a Tuesday, most of the celebrations will take place during the previous weekend.

7. Are there any South Korean Halloween traditions?

Honestly, not that I am aware of. Since Halloween is an imported holiday, it depends on the person. For some people, it’s just another day. For others it’s a family event where they have friends and family over for a mini Halloween party.

Itaewon Halloween Disaster in Seoul

When I lived in Korea, every year I would attend the Halloween celebrations in Itaewon. It was an amazing place to show off your costume and party with friends. Sadly, on the night of October 29, 2022, many party goers, foreign and Korean alike lost their lives in a deadly stampede in Itaewon.

I was deeply saddened by this news as I have many fond memories laughing and dacing the night away in the bars and clubs in this tiny alley. Unfortunately, I am not surprised.

The Halloween festivities in Itaewon are a complete and utter shit show every single year. It gets so crowded everyone is shoulder to shoulder. You can barely move, let alone breathe. I have always despised the crowds so I always found the nearest bar on the second or third floor and stayed there or have gone to Homo Hill where the real party is. The streets of Itaewon are filled with so many partygoers, you can’t even get a taxi. Below is a video from my TikTok filmed in 2019 showing you exactly what it looks like.

Itaewon will always remember…

This Korean Halloween accident could have been avoided had the police even cared to set up guidelines. Itaewon has always been ignored by the cops for as long as I can remember. I truly hope the Seoul Metropolitan Government takes extreme precautions this year so everyone stays safe. It’s hard to predict what the future holds, but I don’t think Itaewon will continue to be the “it place” for Halloween in Seoul.

I still have ties to South Korea and will always have a soft spot for the Land of the Morning Calm and its people. This year, for Dia de los Muertos, I will be putting a candle on my ofrenda to remember the 159 lives tragically cut short.

Where to Find A Halloween Costume Korea

If you’re looking for Halloween costumes in Korea, then the following stores sell them for children and some adult sizes. Be aware they usually stock the smaller sizes because they are catering to a Korean audience. I usually had an easy DIY Halloween costume in Korea.

Korean Halloween Costumes online | Coupang, Gmarket, Amazon, Ebay

If you’re in Korea, the fastest ways to get your Halloween costume is through Coupand or GMarket… If you fit in Korean sizes. I usually bought bits and pieces of my costumes off Amazon and Ebay. But here’s your Halloween treat… Ebay actually has cheaper Halloween costumes and free shipping. You’re welcome.

Joy Party 조이파티

If you don’t feel like DIYing your Halloween costume, Joy Party has a pretty big selection of Halloween merchandise. They also have a huge selection of masks and spooky decorations. You’ll definitely find a great Korean Halloween costume.

Address: 191 Itaewon-ro, Itaewon 1(il)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Hours: 10am – 10pm

Party House  

This store offers balloons, face painting supplies, party supplies, and seasonal decorations plus costumes.

Address: 27, Dosan-daero 25-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Hours: 10:30am – 10pm

Party N Deco  파티앤데코

This store has a huge selection of masks, wigs, and other costume necessities. They not only carry Halloween stuff, but also party supplies you would normally not find anywhere else.

Address: 56, Bangbae-ro 13-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Hours: 9:30am- 10pm (Closed on Sundays)

Where To Buy Korean Halloween Decorations

Does South Korea celebrate Halloween? Oh yes. But not in the way you expect. You will find lots of places now selling Halloween decor in Seoul.

Daiso

Since spooky season has become more popular, Daiso has been getting a larger selection of Halloween decorations. They have lights, autumn leaves, pumpkins, and wall decorations to bring Halloween into your home. Daiso also carries basic cat ears, vampire capes (and sometimes fangs), devil horns, and pitchforks. If you’re looking for a last minute costume, it’s good to know where you can find something.

P.S. I couldn’t dare to part with my Halloween Daiso decorations so I shipped them over to America and proudly display them in my Austin apartment.

Flying Tiger Copenhagen

This is one of my favorite stores for all the strange and weird useful useless things. They always have quirky seasonal Halloween decorations and trinkets. It’s definitely a fun place to go shopping for Halloween party supplies.

Halloween Events 2023

If you’re looking for a great Halloween festival in South Korea, I’ve got you covered. The best places to see them are at amusement parks.

Everland Blood City 6: Express 199

Is Halloween celebrated in Korea at theme parks? Everland is the largest theme park so it makes sense they would throw the largest Halloween event in Korea. Every year, they put on the Everland Blood City which transforms part of the park into a zombie play land. Enter, if you dare. 😉 They also offer rides like the Haunted T-Express and a haunted house. Book your tickets to Everland Blood City here.

Date:

Daegu E-World | BeeBee’s Happy Halloween

If you’re in Daegu, Beebee and her monster friends are bringing it at Daegu E-World. They have the Halloween-themed photo spots, a Darkness House, Monster Race, Horror Powder Room, and Zombie Bartender for your chance to be scared out of your wits. Book your discounted tickets here.

Dark Side of Seoul

If you’re looking to dig into the gritty and bloody history of the back streets of Seoul, you definitely need to join this tour. You’ll learn about the ghosts that haunt the streets and urban legends. If you’re lucky, you might even pick up on some ghost activity. Get your tickets to the Dark Side of Seoul tour here.

Escape from Psycho Circus

This is a super cool EDM festival where performers dress up as ghoulish creatures from horror movies. I’m talking grunge, spikes, chains, and everything that goes bump in the night. This is celebrating Halloween in an epic fashion. They have music in epic zones and the venue is decorated like a scary carnival. Get your tickets to the 2023 Escape from Pscycho Circus Seoul here.

Date: October 27 – October 28, 2023

Korean Folk Village in Yongin

Korea always has to do their own spin on things and this haunted attracted at the Yongin Korean Folk Village is no different. Koreans are great at building suspense and putting on a great horror show. When night falls, the performers dress up as scary creatures from Korean urban legends. Get your tickets to the Korean Folk Village here.

Lotte World Adventure Halloween

Every year Lotte World puts on a spectacular Halloween parade for the kids where it is a very cute and family friendly event. Then, at night, for the older crowds, you’ll see zombies running around at night scaring visitors. You can book your tickets to Lotte World here.

Date: TBA 2023

Seoul Land Mardi Gras Halloween Festival Korea

Seoul Land was the very first theme park in Korea and it has kept up with its tradition of family fun and entertainment. Because coronavirus has changed the face of the world, the theme is to make your own mask with creativity and fun. You can expect fun performances and zombies. You can book your tickets to Seoul Land here.

Date: TBA 2023
Address: 181 Gwangmyeong-ro, Makgye-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Hours: 9:30am – 10pm

Witch’s Kitchen

Definitely not a seasonal restaurant because it’s there all year, but to get into the spooky thrill of things, you should go and eat at Witch’s Kitchen. They have several locations all throughout Seoul. The most popular being in Hongdae. They’re most famous for their IV drink bags. The food there is to DIE for. 😉

Address: 서울 마포구 와우산로21길 36-10
Hours: 12pm – 10:30pm

Yongma Land Seoul

A great place for that Korea haunted house vibe is Yongma Land. This is an abandoned amusement park that was given new life as a photographer’s haven. It’s a great place to take Halloween pictures in Korea.

Address: 118 Mangu-ro 70-gil, Jungnang-gu, Seoul
Hours: 10am – 6pm

Zombie Run

If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to run away from zombies or what the apocalypse would look like, then this is a great way for you to experience it. You get three lives and if you lose them, then you become one of the undead.

Date: TBA 2023
Time: 8:30pm

Where To Find a Seoul Halloween Party

Below you’ll find some of my favorite Halloween events in Korea.

Great Korean Beer Festival

If you’re looking for something more low key and still want to get your drink on, then check out the Great Korean Beer Festival. The event will host 18 craft beer breweries and 8 global food companies from all over the country. There will even be a beer specially brewed for the event.

Date: Rescheduled for 2021

Halloween Cruise Bash

Hosted by Good Time ROK, this is the original Halloween Cruise bash where you can dress up as your favorite character and party along the river for 4 hours. There will be cash prizes for the best costume and free entry to one of their partnered clubs.

Date: TBA 2023
Cost: 85,000 won

Haunted Factory Party

Located in Gangnam and hosted by Global Seoulmates, you definitely don’t want to miss this fun party. Your ticket includes entrance into the venue, unlimited drinks during happy hour, and free entry to after clubs. It’s located at the Sj Kunsthalle, a 4 story venue in Gangnam. There’s even a costume contest with prizes awarded. Get your tickets to the GSM Haunted Factory Party in Seoul here.

Date: TBA 2023
Cost: 40,000 won

Seoul Pub Crawl

Every year, Seoul Pub Crawl hosts an event in honor of Halloween. You can choose between Hongdae or Itaewon. All bars and clubs you will be going to are Halloween themed so you can get into the spirit of things. It’s a great way to drunkenly walk around Seoul with some good friends in your Halloween costumes. Get your tickets to the Halloween Seoul Pub Crawl here.

Date: TBA 2023

Where To Eat Halloween Food in Seoul

Starbucks

Every year Starbucks comes out with so many Halloween and monster inspired foods. It’s the one thing I look forward to in Korea!

I hope I’ve answered your burning questions on, “do Koreans celebrate Halloween?” Is halloween celebrated in Korea? Yes. It is but it is mostly celebrated in Seoul or in big cities like Daegu and Busan.

This post contains affiliate links which means at no additional cost to you, I make a small commission to help keep Gina Bear’s Blog running. Thanks for your support!

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