What to Do in Seoul This Summer? Top 10 Hotspots to Beat the Heat

If you’ve ever felt it was a shame to just have some chicken and beer by the Han River and then head home, how about staying overnight? It’s a special summer event where you can enjoy the romance of the Han River all night long.

At the temporary campground “Hangang Night+Camping,” set up on the lawns of Yeouido and Ttukseom Hangang Parks, you can enjoy the night along the Hangang River from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 a.m. the next morning, right until dawn. You’re welcome to bring your own tent or canopy, but it’s okay if you don’t! Tents are available for rent on-site, so it’s easy to get into the camping spirit.

A pool party with a DJ on the Han River on a hot summer night!

There’s no need to pay a fortune to go to a pool party and feel intimidated by all the fit people around you. “Pongdang Music (Han River Music Pongdang),” which has already taken social media by storm, is a nighttime DJ pool party where you can enjoy live music and beats while cooling off in the water. Let’s blow away the summer heat by singing along with everyone else in the water.

This is the perfect spot when you want to enjoy a comfortable indoor date while escaping the sweltering heat and the rainy season. Located inside the COEX Mall in Samseong-dong, you can spend a cool and relaxing summer indoors while viewing tens of thousands of marine creatures and exploring various themed zones.

Plus, there’s a special half-price discount just for those born in August! Throughout the month of August, tickets are a whopping 50% off for anyone born in August. *Limited to one ticket per person

“All-Night Han River ON,” held at places like Mangwon Han River Park, is a fun two-day, one-night festival for those who’ve lost track of time.

As you bask in the cool river breeze, binge-watch the movie *Salmokji* and the nostalgic drama *Coffee Prince* all night long, and enjoy board games and unique experiences—before you know it, you’ll be greeted by the Han River’s beautiful sunrise.

A pool party with a DJ on the Han River on a hot summer night!

The silent DJ parties—a signature attraction at Banpo and Yeouido Hangang Parks—are unique festivals where a whole new world opens up the moment you put on your headphones.

From the outside, it looks like a quiet Han River Park, but through your headphones, exciting DJ beats flow nonstop. As you lose yourself in your own world and dance without worrying about noise, your stress will melt away completely.

It’s a place where you can savor the romance of sipping a cold glass of craft beer while enjoying the cool breeze by the water. Held in the area around Jang-an 1 Riverside Park (Jungnangcheon) in Dongdaemun-gu, this festival lets you enjoy craft beers from uniquely distinctive breweries alongside delicious food truck fare. With a variety of musical performances and outdoor busking added to the mix, it offers a charming nighttime view right in the heart of the city.

Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong-ro Park, nestled in the heart of the city’s skyscraper forest, are undergoing a complete transformation into summer getaways. Equipped with a massive water slide, a swimming pool, and even a sand play area, you can enjoy a summer retreat right in the city center. At night, adult-only evening programs and hip DJ performances take place, ensuring there’s not a single dull moment from day to night.

South Korea’s premier outdoor rock festival, setting Incheon’s Songdo Moonlight Festival Park ablaze!

This year, in particular, the legendary American rock band the Pixies is headlining, generating a lot of buzz. As this marks their first-ever performance in Korea 40 years after the band’s formation, it’s set to be a historic moment that no rock fan should miss.

This is the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s comprehensive summer festival, taking place throughout the Han River Parks. It’s packed with programs to suit every taste, from discounts on water sports to nighttime movie screenings under the bridges, drone shows, and music picnics. It’s the ultimate festival—a real “cheat code”—for enjoying the Han River to the fullest this summer.

This is a summer beach festival in the heart of Songdo, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, where you can fully immerse yourself in a seaside atmosphere. You can enjoy a relaxing break on the artificial white sand beach and in the water play area created right in the middle of the city. With a variety of performances and hands-on programs for the whole family to enjoy, it’s the perfect way to get that vacation vibe even right here in nearby Incheon.