Seoul is becoming a better place to live, but if there’s one thing we’re not happy about, it’s the skyrocketing prices. Whether you’re a student looking for a place to stay after the SATs, or just looking for a good place to hang out, here are some free spaces in Seoul that anyone can enjoy.
Free performances to light up the night in Seoul
1. Seoul Light DDP
Seoul Light is a large-scale media art project that illuminates the center of Seoul. Seoul Light is held at various landmarks around Seoul. Seoulite DDP is one of them, disguising the exterior wall of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) as a giant artwork. Last fall, the exterior was decorated with works by artist Kim Hwan-ki, and from December 12 to December 31, Seoulite DDP Winter will be held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of DDP. There will also be a countdown event on the 31st.
2. Seoul Light Han River Light Island Festival
The Seoul Light Han River Light Island Festival is held every October for 10 days at Yeouido Han River Park. It is the largest waterfront laser art festival in Seoul, and the festival consists of programs such as performance learning, media art, and expert lectures. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has expressed its ambition to turn the festival into an art festival that travels to Seoul’s iconic islands, such as Seonyudo and Nodle Island, so keep your eyes peeled for next year.
3. Han River Light Show Drone Light Show
Along with fireworks, the drone show has become one of Seoul’s signature nighttime events. The Han River Fireworks Drone Light Show features 1,000 colorful drones that light up the night sky. The show is held every weekend for about two months in the first half of the year, and in the spring and fall, when it’s perfect for outdoor activities. If you’re interested, wait until next April.
A great place to take photos and read a book
4. Gwanghwamun Book Market
The Seoul Outdoor Library, which was especially loved in 2024, when the warm weather continued for a long time, ended on November 10th. Gwanghwamun Bookmarket is the representative space of the Seoul Outdoor Library. Surrounded by Gwanghwamun and Sejong-daero plazas, it’s a great time to lie down and read in the open space. Gwanghwamun Bookmarket will return next spring.
5. A sunny stream to read by
Another popular program of the Seoul Open Air Library is the Reading Sunny Stream, which runs along Cheonggyecheon Stream. The red tables and chairs, which are a modern interpretation of Korean images, create a breathtaking scenery of water and reading. It will return again next spring.
6. Libraries worth visiting 7
If you’re reading this right now while the above two programs are on hiatus, you’re probably feeling a little sad, but you don’t have to. Here’s a list of libraries in Seoul worth checking out. From Odong Forest Library, winner of the 2024 Seoul Architecture Prize, to Namsan Library with its beautiful fall foliage and snowy scenery, to Cheongwoon Literature Library, a hanok library, to the Seoul Museum of Art Archive, a great place to eat in Tongchang. Find out more.
Beautiful walks in all seasons
7. Bukchon Hanok Village
From telescopes to holy water to shrines. When you think of the new neighborhoods that have emerged in the past decade, you might be tempted to exaggerate that everywhere in Seoul will eventually become a hotspot. Bukchon, which has always been a quiet neighborhood, is a place that relaxes me every time I visit. If you have enough energy after walking around Samcheong-dong and Gyedong neighborhoods, walk between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Blue House to Seochon.
8. Namsan circumambulatory path
After stopping by the Namsan Library, you can take a peaceful stroll along Namsan Perimeter Road. The four walking trails – Namsan North Circular Road, Namsan South Circular Road, Sowol-ro, and Namsan Outdoor Botanical Garden – are also famous for their fall colors.
9. Yoon Dongju Poet’s Hill
Naksan Park and Inwangsan Mountain are famous for Seoul’s castle roads, but Seoul walkers will recognize Yoon Dongju Poet’s Hill in Cheongwoon Park. Tucked away in Buam-dong, Cheongwoon Park is a hidden gem with a window on one side and a night view of Jongno on the other. If you come here by walking up and down the hill past Gyeongbok High School, you can take your time and enjoy the night view.
10. Yongsan Family Park
When you think of a park in Seoul with a panoramic view, you might think of Olympic Park or Seoul Forest. Yongsan Family Park is a good option for those who don’t want to travel all the way to the east side of Seoul, but even without the comparison, it’s beautiful enough with its pond and lazy willow views. It’s a great place to have a picnic on a nice day, or just stop by and explore the quiet Dongdaechon-dong neighborhood.
Free and insightful exhibits for free
11. Seoul Museum of Art
The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) is always free except for special exhibitions. In addition to introducing domestic and foreign masters such as painter Edward Hopper last year and architect Norman Foster this year, the museum also features ambitious works by young artists. There are exhibitions at various locations throughout Seoul, from the Seomun Main Building, a converted former Supreme Court building, to the North and South Seoul halls, and the Nam June Paik Memorial Hall.
12. Lium Art Museum
Nestled among the galleries of Hannam-dong, you can also visit the Rium Museum of Art for free to see its permanent exhibition of ancient art. You can see a collection of ancient art from prehistoric times to the Joseon Dynasty. Even if you’re not interested in ancient art, it’s worth a visit for the architecture alone. The Rijksmuseum was designed by Pritzker Prize winners Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas, the Nobel Prize of architecture, and the red brick magician Mario Botta.
13. National Museum of Korea
I didn’t realize when I went to the National Museum of Korea with my parents as a child that the building’s massive pillars and exhibits that tell the story of thousands of years of Korean history tell a straight and proud story. This is not a boring history classroom , but an experiential space that helps you understand the times that made the present possible. Those of us with eyes to see outside know that. We know that the best view of Namsan is right here, framed by the museum.