Gwanghwamun Market
Dec 11, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027 · Seoul
Overview
Gwanghwamun Market takes place along with the Seoul Lantern Festival to support local small businesses and promote Seoul night tourism. The market features local store owners and businesses that exhibit and sell seasonal decor, handcrafted items, and winter snacks.
Why go
Gwanghwamun Market runs alongside the Seoul Lantern Festival, turning the square into a winter night market with stalls from local small businesses selling handcrafted items, seasonal decor, and winter snacks. There are also food booths, global collaboration booths, experience programs, and an immersive photo zone. Admission is free, making it an easy stop on an evening out in central Seoul.
Getting there from Seoul
Gwanghwamun Square and Sejongno Park are already in central Seoul, in Jongno-gu, so no intercity travel is needed. The closest subway stop is Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5; City Hall Station (Lines 1 and 2) is also within walking distance.
Tips
- Go in the evening — the market operates 17:30–23:00.
- Dress warmly, as it's an outdoor market during December and January.
- Entry is free, but bring cash or card for food and craft purchases.
Best for: families, night photography, winter markets, couples.
Program
・主要プログラム：クリスマスシーズン小物の販売
・付帯イベントおよびプログラム：フードブース、グローバルコラボブース、体験プログラム、没入型フォトゾーンの運営など
Photos
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization
Other festivals in Seoul
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Seoul Light Gwanghwamun
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Seoul Light Gwanghwamun is Seoul’s premier light festival, featuring a combination of media art with cultural and artistic content. Seoul is a city that transforms like a living organism, shaped by the movements and stories of countless people. Standing at its heart, Gwanghwamun Gate is a symbolic space where Seoul’s history and the lives of its citizens have intertwined over time; it is also the “birthplace of light,” where electricity first entered modern Korea and illuminated the city’s nights. That light did more than simply dispel the darkness; it transformed people’s daily lives and culture, and that momentum continues to this day, shaping the city’s rhythm in every aspect of our lives. Seoul Light Gwanghwamun once again illuminates Seoul’s transformation with light at the very spot where that first light was kindled.
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Seoul Lantern Festival
Dec 11, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
The Seoul Lantern Festival is held every year and is one of the most anticipated festivals in Seoul. With various themed lanterns around Cheonggyecheon Stream, visitors can enjoy both traditional lanterns and modern LED lanterns. The festival provides much to see and do with the addition of Gwanghwamun Square Market.
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Dates and programs can change. Check the official site before you go. Official site