Korean Christmas: how Seoul celebrates and where to see lights
Christmas in Korea is a public holiday, but it feels different from Christmas in many Western countries. For most Koreans, December 25 is less about family dinners and more a romantic day for couples and a fun day out with friends. Seoul puts on big light displays, department stores compete with huge facades and trees, and churches hold well-attended services. If you are visiting in December, you can enjoy the festive side easily, as long as you plan around the crowds.
How Koreans celebrate Christmas
Christmas (called Seongtanjeol, 성탄절, or simply keuriseumaseu) is an official national holiday in South Korea, so many offices are closed and it is a day off for most workers. A large share of Koreans are Christian, so churches and cathedrals hold midnight and Christmas Day services, and you will see lit-up crosses across the city skyline at night.
For many younger people, though, Christmas Eve is a date night. Couples book restaurants weeks ahead, exchange small gifts and go out to see the lights. Groups of friends hold small parties, and families with young children often visit theme parks or malls. Christmas cakes from bakeries such as Paris Baguette and Tous Les Jours are a big tradition, and many people pre-order them.
What is open on December 25?
Because it is a holiday, government offices and banks close, but almost everything a visitor needs stays open: department stores, malls, cafes, restaurants, convenience stores, cinemas, palaces and most attractions. Public transport runs normally. The main difference is crowds: popular restaurants, cafes and light spots get very busy on the evening of the 24th and the 25th.
Where to see Christmas lights in Seoul
Exact locations and dates change every year, so treat this as a starting list and check current listings before you go.
Seoul Winter Festa (Gwanghwamun, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Plaza)
The city of Seoul runs a winter festival that usually starts in mid-December and continues into early January. In recent years it has covered Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Seoul Plaza and Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), with a Christmas-market style area and Santa Village at Gwanghwamun and light installations along the stream. It is free to walk around and easy to reach by subway. Check the official Seoul Winter Festa website for this year's dates and programme.
Myeongdong department store facades
Myeongdong is the classic Christmas lights area. The department stores around the area, including Shinsegae's main store and Lotte Department Store's main store, are known for decorating their buildings with large light shows, media facades and tall Christmas trees. Crowds gather on the street opposite to take photos, so go on a weekday evening if you can. Myeongdong Cathedral nearby also hosts Christmas events and services.
Malls and other spots
Big malls such as The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido and Starfield COEX Mall are known for indoor Christmas villages, trees and pop-ups, which are a warm option on very cold nights. Theme parks such as Lotte World and Everland also run Christmas seasons with parades and decorations. For more cold-weather ideas, see our guide to indoor things to do in Seoul in winter.
Christmas food and treats
Instead of a roast dinner, Koreans tend to eat out: Italian restaurants, steakhouses and fried chicken are popular, and fried chicken delivery spikes on Christmas Eve. Christmas cakes are the real symbol. Bakeries and hotel patisseries sell decorated strawberry cakes and themed designs, often with pre-orders opening in late November. Cafes release seasonal drinks and desserts, and convenience stores sell small cakes and gift sets too.
Quick tips
- Book restaurants early if you want dinner on December 24 or 25.
- Visit light displays on a weekday or before 7pm to avoid the biggest crowds.
- Dress for real cold: Seoul evenings in late December are often below freezing.
- Use the subway rather than taxis on Christmas Eve, when roads around Myeongdong and Gwanghwamun get jammed.
- Check official sites for festival dates, since they change every year.
"Christmas Eve in Seoul is when the whole city glows. I go early, get a hot drink and walk the lights before the crowds arrive." — LUMI, POPORO CITY
FAQ
Is Christmas a public holiday in South Korea?
Yes. December 25 is an official national holiday. Most offices and banks close, but shops, restaurants and attractions generally stay open.
Is December 26 also a holiday?
No. Korea has no Boxing Day, so life returns to normal on December 26.
Where is the best place to see Christmas lights in Seoul?
Myeongdong's department store facades and the city's winter festival around Gwanghwamun and Cheonggyecheon are the most popular. Big malls offer indoor displays.
Do Koreans exchange Christmas gifts?
Yes, but usually small ones, mainly between couples, close friends and to children. It is not a large family gift-giving holiday for most people.
Is Seoul crowded at Christmas?
Very, especially on the evening of December 24. Plan dinners and photo spots ahead, or go earlier in December when the lights are already up.
Want more Korean seasonal culture? Read about Pepero Day on November 11.