Freeze the Frame: Your Guide to the Gwanghwamun Highlights of the 2025 Seoul Winter Festa!

Seoul's winter nights are truly more beautiful than its days. The highly anticipated 2025 Seoul Winter Festa kicked off on December 12th, and this year, the scale is bigger and more fantastical than ever before!

Established in 2023, this festival has quickly become Korea’s largest winter celebration, drawing crowds of international visitors. Running for 24 days, the festival spans six major locations across the city—from Gwanghwamun Plaza and Cheonggyecheon to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and Seoul Plaza. It culminates with the magnificent New Year's Eve Bosingak Bell-Toll ceremony.

If you’re visiting, the Gwanghwamun area is the heart of the action! Here are the must-see viewing points for the 2025 Festa, themed “FANTASIA SEOUL.”

1. Gwanghwamun's Spectacular Opening Night

The festival officially launched with a bang at Gwanghwamun Plaza.

• The Big Reveal: Media Facade Show The ultimate highlight was the dramatic unveiling of Gwanghwamun itself. As the countdown hit zero, the massive gate was revealed as a screen for the dazzling media facade show, “Seoul Light Gwanghwamun.” The artwork, themed 'Gwanghwa, Breathing with Light,' was breathtaking, featuring realistic animations of the traditional Haechi (mythical guardian) and galloping horses. Keep an eye out for projections of King Sejong the Great!

• The Citizen Choir Flash Mob: The opening ceremony featured a moving performance by a 180-person citizen choir, including children, seniors, and international residents. The most charming moment? When the choir members, who had been sitting among the audience wearing crown headbands, suddenly stood up and converged on the stage in a flash mob style, performing harmonies like “We Are One” and “Gyeongbokgung Taryeong.”

• Fantasia Light Parade: The area from the south to the north of Gwanghwamun Plaza transformed into a parade ground, resembling a magical theme park with performers in exotic costumes.

2. The Must-Visit Photo Zones: Tradition Meets Modernity

Just north of the King Sejong statue, you'll find a stunning convergence of light and tradition:

• Unsu Daetong-ro (The Road to Great Fortune): This is a 26-meter-long light installation that reinterprets two famous Korean traditional elements:

• • Irworobongdo (Sun, Moon, and Five Peaks): A traditional screen painting known globally through the "Kaedehon" (a brand collaboration).
• • Dancheong: The stunning structural colors found in traditional Korean architecture.
• • Walking through this space is a sensory experience blending ancient motifs with modern light art.

• Irworobongdo Wish Wall: Don't miss the chance to participate! This installation features a massive "Irworobongdo" where you can place colorful wish tiles like building blocks. Be sure to write down your wish for the New Year!

3. Gwanghwamun Market: Your Winter Wonderland

Stretching out in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the Gwanghwamun Market is pure Christmas fantasy.

• The Red Carousel: The star attraction is the beautifully red-themed carousel. It creates a warm, festive atmosphere right in the heart of the city—a perfect backdrop for your holiday photos!

• Santa Village Vibes: The market feels like stepping into a warm, urban Christmas fairy tale. It’s packed with unique, adorable Christmas goods and souvenirs (be prepared for some serious shopping temptation!).

• Kids' Corner & Photo Zones: Look for the Haechi’s Room photo zone, the Santa Claw Machine, and the Gingerbread Wish Letters. These interactive spots are guaranteed to be a hit with younger visitors.

• Stamp Tour: Participate in the Gwanghwamun Market Stamp Tour! Complete the tour by visiting various points to receive a free ride ticket for the carousel.

Seoul Winter Festa at a Glance

• Dates: December 12, 2025, to January 4, 2026.
• Locations: Gwanghwamun Plaza, DDP, Seoul Plaza, Cheonggyecheon, Uicheon, and Bosingak.
• Major Events Include: Seoul Light Gwanghwamun (Media Facade), Gwanghwamun Market (Santa Village), Seoul Lantern Festival, Seoul Plaza Skating Rink, SeoulCon, and the New Year’s Bell-Tolling Ceremony.

This is more than a festival; it’s a non-stop winter theme park experience right in downtown Seoul. Make sure you don't miss this incredible celebration of light, art, and the spirit of the New Year!

Reference: [Seoul newsletter](https://mediahub.seoul.go.kr/archives/2016491)