Don’t you just get more and more excited as the end of the year approaches? The anticipation of something special happening under the twinkling lights, the unknown courage of shedding the old you and starting anew at the beginning of the year, all of these feelings are magnified. ๐ Don’t let this excitement go to waste!
This weekend, we’ve rounded up some of the best events in Seoul to keep those precious feelings alive.
1. Seoul Light DDP 2025
This evening, DDP will be lit up.
As part of the Seoul Winter Festival, last week the Gwanghwamun Media Facade was bathed in colorful lights,
This week, DDP will follow in its footsteps and become the new center of light starting at 6:30pm tonight.
This year, DDP’s Seoul Light theme is ‘EVER GLOW: A place that shines forever’. With appearances by Seoul-born characters such as Line Friends and Hatch, as well as a visit from a ‘hip Santa’, DDP will be transformed into a Christmas town where you’ll feel like you’ve left a package of presents, making it a sensational night in Seoul. Don’t miss it!
2. Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink Opens!
What could be more romantic than ice skating in the city center? If you watch any romantic comedy movie, there’s always a scene of a couple ice skating in the city, usually in a New York ice skating rink, but you can feel the same fantasy and romance in the middle of Seoul.
This year’s ice skating rink will be even more special: the giant winter ring in front of City Hall will be illuminated at night, allowing you to skate safely even in the dark. On the opening night, national figure skating champion Cha Jun-hwan and short track gold medalist Shim Seok-hee will be performing to celebrate!
Complete your year-end romance in front of City Hall.
3. Seoul Han River Festival
The Han River is truly a tree of generosity for Seoulites, and this Friday the Han River Festival kicks off with all-season fun! There’s snow sledding at Han River Park, a romantic Han River Christmas Market, a Han River Wind Festival where you can fly kites, and a winter night view from a Han River cruise!
Han River parks centered around Banpo, Yeouido, Ttukseom, Mangwon, and Jamwon will be transformed into a winter wonderland this season. For more information, visit the official information page.
4. Kinky Boots Musical
A bold and heartwarming story, the musical Kinky Boots opened this week on Wednesday (17th)!
If you’re looking for something to see this weekend, you might want to check out Kinky Boots. In South Korea, where drag culture can still feel foreign, Kinky Boots is a story of freedom, solidarity, and the courage to accept and express yourself as you are.
Based on a true story, Kinky Boots follows Charlie, who inherits his father’s family shoe factory and teams up with drag queen Lola to save the business. With music from ’80s pop queen Cyndi Lauper driving the story forward, there’s not a musical number left unturned.
If you’re in the mood for a deeply liberating experience, check out the show this weekend.
5. 2025 Namsan Outdoor Room Escape <Demon’s Time Signals> (Namsan)
A “forgetfulness” virus has spread through the hanok village of Namsan! Those infected with the virus are said to lose their precious memories, and there’s only one thing they need to revive their fading memories of Seoul… You!
This Namsan outdoor escape room game is a mobile outdoor escape room game that starts at the entrance of a traditional hanok house in Namsan Golhanok Village and progresses throughout the village. This is the last time this escape room will be running in one of Seoul’s most beautifully restored traditional neighborhoods, so if you haven’t experienced it yet, this is your last chance to do so!
6. 2025 Seodaemun-gu Year-end Concert
My playlist is always filled with Christmas carols at this time of year, and there’s a year-end concert at the Ewha Womans University Auditorium that brings these carols to life. Local choirs will be accompanied by conductor Ham Shin-ik, so you can experience the moving and magnificent musical atmosphere of the year!