The Best Events to Celebrate Halloween in Korea in Spooky Style [UPDATED 2023]
The autumn leaves are changing colour, pumpkin lattes have appeared in cafes, and the witching hour is upon us. Halloween in Korea falls on Tuesday, October 31st in 2023, and you can bet on plenty of spooky events and activities to keep you ghoulishly entertained.
Are you ready for Halloween in Korea?
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In this guide
- 1 Halloween in Korea | What to Expect
- 2 Halloween in Korea | Festivals & Events 2023
- 3 Halloween in Korea with Kids
- 4 Halloween in Korea | Costumes
Halloween in Korea | What to Expect
If you’re visiting Korea during Halloween, you should know that Halloween in Korea isn’t the same as back home. You won’t find costumed kids trick or treating door to door, haunted houses, or skeletons wandering the streets. However, it is a holiday that’s becoming more and more popular year after year.
Halloween decorations can be found all over Korea these days
I’ve personally noticed an exponential increase in Halloween themed events, parties, and general interest in the holiday over the last 13 years of living in Korea. It’s getting easier and easier to find the perfect ghoulish thing to do to celebrate the spooky season.
Celebrating Halloween in Itaewon
Itaewon was the single most popular place in Seoul to celebrate Halloween in Korea – but after the tragic events of last year, it’s impossible to know what the future will bring. Will people still head to Itaewon to celebrate Halloween in 2023? Your guess is as good as mine. One thing that’s certain though, is that effective crowd control will be at the top of everyone’s agenda.
*The content below was written prior to the Halloween crowd crush in Itaewon.
While you will find people in costume in both Hongdae and Gangnam, Itaewon is undoubtedly your best bet for Halloween fun in the city. As the expat hub of Seoul, you can count on a wild Halloween vibe, plenty of crazy costumes, and a ton of special events and parties.
Itaewon is the expat hub of Seoul © Lee Bumsu, Korea Tourism Organization
Nightclubs, bars, and restaurants will definitely be having a number of events and costume competitions – most likely on the weekend before Halloween (since it falls on a Tuesday in 2023).
You don’t have to plan too much to have a good time. Just wander the winding streets of Itaewon to find a fun Halloween event, or check with your chosen venue to find out what’s planned.
Halloween in Korea | Festivals & Events 2023
After the pandemic chaos of the last few years, Halloween in Korea events are finally back in full force during autumn in Korea 2023. Here are some options to check out.
There’s plenty to do to celebrate Halloween in Korea.
Lotte World Adventure | Dark Moon with Enhyphen
Festival Dates: September 1st – October 22nd, 2023
Address: 240, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul |서울특별시 송파구 올림픽로 240
Lotte World Adventure has been transformed into ENHYPEN’s webtoon, Dark Moon. This event doesn’t last all the way to Halloween, but you can still see the Magic Castle lit up in blood-red, and visit themed areas from Decelis Academy.
There’s also sure to be a ton of horrifying Halloween festivities planned, including a Halloween Party Parade (where candy is given out), Zombie Prison escape room, Zombie theatre and multiple Halloween themed performances.
Half of this theme park is indoors, so it’s a good one to visit with kids. More details here (Korean only).
There’s kid-appropriate stuff at Lotte World too!
DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR LOTTE WORLD X ENHYPHEN | Grab discounted tickets for Lotte World Adventure in advance, avoid the lines, and save nearly 20,000 won off the regular price. Check full details here.
Halloween at Everland | Blood City 7
Dates: September 8th – November 19th, 2023
Address: 199, Everland-ro, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 용인시 처인구 포곡읍 에버랜드로 199 (포곡읍)
Every year, Everland throws a huge Halloween spectacle called Blood City and they’ve really raised the ante in 2023.
The amusement park gets an especially freaky facelift this year, with White Z: The Seed of Hope.asking regular citizens to save Blood City from a Zombie Apocalypse.
From Horror Mazes to photos with giant zombies to an epic Halloween Wicked parade, there’s something to please revellers of all ages… though Blood City might be a bit too scary for young children.
Get all the gory details on their website (Korean only)
TRAVEL TIP | Grab advance admission tickets for Everland (to skip the ilnes), then hop on a convenient round-trip shuttle bus (opt for public transit if you want to stay until the park closes). If you’re traveling with family or a large group, a private roundtrip transfer between Seoul and Everland might be a better option for you.
SeoulLand | Oktober Festival
Dates: September 16th – November 19th, 2023
Address: 181, Gwangmyeong-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 과천시 광명로 181 (막계동)
This year, SeoulLand, is combining the traditions of German Oktoberfest into one big festival. Enjoy craft beer, a bbq zone accordian and violin street performances, a world carnival dance party, and much more.
Show up at SeoulLand in a costume for special discounts.
SeoulLand is probably the least scary theme park to celebrate Halloween in Korea with kids. Show up wearing a mask or costume to enjoy special discounts at the park.
More details here.
TIP | Get your admission tickets to Seoul Land in advance and get a kinda ridiculous 60% off the price! (19,000 won vs 46,000 won onsite) Pre-book discounted tickets to Seoul Land here.
Zombie Factory Halloween Party in Gangnam
Date: October 28th, 2023
At SJ Kunsthalle: 5 Eonju-ro 148-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 강남구 언주로148길 5
In its 5th year, the Zombie Factory Halloween Party is the place to hit, if you want to spend Halloween in Korea, dancing and partying with an eclectic mix of people.
The event includes a costume competition, happy hour with unlimited cocktails and beers for 3 hours, performances, and an after-party that starts at midnight. Early bird tickets are on sale, until October 12th. Grab them here.
Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walking Tour
Dates: Ongoing
If you’re the type that loves getting spooked by haunted tales and ghostly encounters, the Dark Side of Seoul Ghost tour is a perfect way to celebrate Halloween in Korea.
On this guided tour, you’ll walk through hidden alleyways and secret spots to visit the site of a gruesome massacre, a neighbourhood populated by the spirits of murdered prostitutes, Seoul’s most haunted house, and much, much more.
Get spooked on the Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Tour.
This tour is available to take any time of the year, but it’s extremely popular during Halloween in Korea. No big surprise there. If it’s something you definitely want to do, book in advance.
*Due to the nature of this tour, children under 18 are prohibited from joining.
Daegu E-World | Pumpkin Festa / Bloody Pierrot House
Dates: August 26th – November 5th, 2023
Address: 200, Duryugongwon-ro, Dalseo-gu, Daegu | 대구광역시 달서구 두류공원로 200 (두류동)
If you’re near Daegu, you can get unexpectedly attacked by Beebee and her monster friends at Daegu E-World. Beebee is very cute though, so it’s not all that scary, and great for kids. If you’d like a bit more horror, be sure to check out the Bloody Pierrot Haunted House.
Yes, you can expect a scary clown at the Bloody Pierrot House.
The Pumpkin Festa includes a Pumpkin Road, Pumpkin Market with busking performances, Pumpkin Farm and much more. Check full details here, and grab discounted tickets for eWorld here.
STAYING IN BUSAN? | This convenient tour takes you from Busan to Daegu for a fun day of thrilling rides, performances, flower gardens, and light shows at E-World. See more details here.
Zombie Run Korea
Dates: TBA for 2023, but October 29th in 2022
Address: 513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 강남구 영동대로 513 (삼성동)
Being chased through a deserted shopping mall by the undead during Halloween in Korea is pretty much the stuff of nightmares, if you ask me. But if that’s your thing, be sure to sign up for the Zombie Run that’s set to take place inside Starfield Coex Mall for the very first time.
Starfield Coex Mall will be overrun with zombies on Halloween in Korea.
The Zombie Run starts on October 29th at 11PM. Get tickets here (before they’re sold out).
Halloween in Korea with Kids
Mounds of candy, super fun costumes, and haunted houses. There’s no doubt that Halloween is a big deal for kids of all ages.
Trick or treat is always a hit with kids. Last year’s haul.
Where to Trick-or Treat in Seoul
Trick or treating during Halloween in Korea is not exactly the same as at home, but there are events organized by expat families wanting to recreate childhood Halloween traditions for their kids. The best place to find these is on Facebook or other social networking sites.
Expat trick or treat at Yongsan Family Park in Seoul
These events draws massive crowds to various parks around the city, and it’s always a ton of fun to see all the incredible costumes. Of course, these huge gatherings mostly weren’t happening in 2021, but they returned with a vengeance last year.
Twilight Trick or Treat at Yongsan Family Park
When: October 28th, 2023, from 5 – 8PM
Address: 185, Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 용산구 서빙고로 185
Twilight Trick or Treat has excellent Halloween vibes.
Decorate a tree, bench, or table or area in spooky Halloween style and get ready to hand out candy to a bunch of eager trick or treaters. This event is aimed at Elementary School aged children.
Be prepared to dress up and decorate your table in spooky style.
This event is put together by a group of expat parents, so if you plan to attend, be sure to dress up, and bring at least 100 candies or toys to give out during trick or treat.
Get full details and join the event here.
Other Trick or Treat Events
Here are other trick or trick events I’ve heard about for Halloween in Korea. Be sure to check details before showing up. Some have been confirmed and some haven’t.
Huge crowds join expat trick or treat events every year
- CONFIRMED: Trick or Treating at Olympic Park | October 29th, 2023, from 11AM – 2PM
- Expat Dads Trick or Treat at Yongsan Family Park | October 29th, 2022 at 12:00PM | TBA for 2023. This event is not publicly advertised, but it’s definitely happening (that’s where the group pic above was taken). Dress up, and you MUST bring a bag of candy to add to the community pot.
- Dongtan Fall Festival in the Park | October 30th, 2022 at 2:00PM | TBA for 2023
- Halloween at Children’s Grand Park | October 30th, 2022 at 3:00PM | TBA for 2023
Pumpkin Family Farm Days at Bear Foot Gardens
Dates: Weekends and Holidays in October
Bear Foot Gardens is a community driven organic farm in the Suwon area, south of Seoul. They run various events throughout the year, but the annual pumpkin carving event happens in the month of October in Korea.
You’ll have to decide if this pumpkin carving event at Bear Foot Gardens is worth the money. It wasn’t for me. Photo by @tomasco.
At the event, you can choose a pumpkin from the farm to carve (at a minimum extra cost of 15,000 won for the smallest pumpkin), and participate in various Halloween themed activities like a very small haunted house.
You should however make sure your kids are not too afraid and can actually make it more than 2 steps into the haunted house, rather than “blocking” the other kids, otherwise the owner of the farm will not refund the extra $5 he charges for entrance – after all, and I quote: “it’s just $5,” (not what I said fyi).
Making a witch’s broom was also advertised, but was not actually offered – but I’m sure there is an extra cost for this activity as there was for everything else. There’s also food on offer (for added cost) if you get hungry on-site.
This “platter” of beef brisket and pulled pork with 4 buns at Bear Foot Gardens cost 50,000 won ($50).
Note that when you make your reservation, you’ll have to send a deposit upfront to hold your spot. If less than the number you reserved for actually attend the event, they will not credit you for that person, even though you have already paid for them upfront (so you’ll lose your money for nothing).
*I attended the event this year, and I do not recommend it. You can message me for more details if you like.
Halloween in Korea | Costumes
What’s Halloween without a costume? Whether you choose online, DIY, or a physical store, there are several options for getting the perfect Halloween costume in Korea.
Online | Coupang, 11st, Gmarket, Amazon
If you don’t read or write Korean, the easiest online retailers are Coupang, 11st, and Gmarket. All offer searching in english, and are relatively easy to navigate, even if you aren’t fluent in Hangul. There are also apps for all of these online retailers, if you prefer to shop from your phone.
I bought Naia’s Owelette costume on Amazon!
On these sites, you can buy complete Halloween costumes, decorations, candy, or any bits and pieces you need to cobble together a DIY costume for Halloween in Korea.
TIP | If you’re ordering from a non-Korean retailer like Amazon, or getting imported goods through Coupang, you’ll need a Korean customs ID number. Goods valued under 150,000 won are generally free of extra customs tax.
Stores to buy Halloween Costumes in Korea
Want to try before you buy? These days, it’s possible to find costumes at big retailers like Emart or Homeplus, but head to any of the following specialized party shops in Korea for more choices. You’ll find a huge selection of frightening costumes, bloody props, and grisly masks.
Joy Party | 조이파티
Joy Party has locations in Hongdae and Gangnam. They have a ton of Halloween costumes available for purchase, for both children and adults. There’s also a huge selection of more Halloween decorations and balloons than you could ever possibly need.
Party n Deco | 파티앤데코
Party n Deco is located near Bangbae Station in Seocho-gu. You can visit the store in person, or check out their costume selection here.
Where to DIY a Halloween Costume in Korea
If you’re a creative type or have a costume idea that just can’t be bought, DIY is the name of the game. Fortunately, putting something together yourself is easy and affordable in Korea. Here’s where you can go for supplies.
My friend DIY-ed a jellyfish costume using items at Daiso and Coupang.
Daiso
Daiso is Korea’s dollar store, and you can find one in pretty much every neighbourhood. Their selection of Halloween decorations, cheap accessories, and spooky trinkets has been increasing year over year. You can also pick up any glues, fasteners, or papers that you might need at Daiso.
Flying Tiger Copenhagen | Butter
These are variety stores that stock accessories, DIY items, toys, games, and more. These stores are mostly located in malls around the city.
Alpha and other Stationary Stores
The big stationary store chain in Korea is called Alpha, but you can find other 문구점 all over Seoul. They have a lot more than paper, pens and notebooks. You’ll also be able to find craft supplies, art supplies, felt, and much more there.
Dongdaemun Fabric Market
Head to Dongdaemun Shopping Town for fabrics, yarns, lace, textiles, accessories, furs, feathers, and jewellery making materials spread across 5 floors and countless stalls. Operating hours are Monday to Saturday, from 8AM – 6PM.
Whether you buy or DIY your Halloween costume in Seoul, it’s sure to be fun.
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Halloween in Korea: Essential Info and FAQs
Happy Halloween! What have you got planned for Halloween in Korea?
Mabel Kwong
I read this post with a lot of interest as I heard Halloween is quite a big occasion in South Korea, and people actually dress up. From what you wrote about it, it does seem popular and the main theme of Halloween there is dressing up and having fun. The Lotte World Adventure outdoor theme park sounds like a really big event, from the escape room to the performances. Amazing and it probably attracts it’s own set of tourists, maybe the younger generation.
Daiso is such an affordable place to get Halloween costumes! They are always so cute and affordable especially if you are on a budget. Here in Australia Halloween does get some attention, and people do like trick-or-treating but not on the scale as in the US. It’s the time of the year when chocolate and candy all go on half price 😀
shelley
Halloween is more of a holiday for people in their 20s to go to clubs and party. They do events at school for the kids, but you don’t really see people dressed up and walking around all day like you do in North America. It’s usually contained to certain neighbourhoods – especially Itaewon – which is the big expat neighbourhood in Seoul.
AndysWorldJourneys
interesting though how it has spread worldwide. You wouldnt expect it to rival American Halloween would you? Some countries don’t celebrate it in any way. In fact proper most dont but still even here in Australia we have trick or treating to some extent.
shelley
Yeah, it’s definitely nowhere close to American Halloween yet – but I think it’s more cuz of how housing is here. It’s mostly big apartment complexes vs houses, so kinda hard to decorate and trick or treat the “American way.” It’s def a party holiday for people in their 20s, and the little kids dress up at school usually. It’s getting bigger and bigger every year though… that’s for sure!