Halloween in Korea | How to Celebrate in Spooky Style
The autumn leaves are changing colour, pumpkin lattes have appeared in cafes, and the witching hour is upon us. Halloween in Korea falls on Sunday, October 31st in 2021, 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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Halloween in Korea
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 over 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 12 years of living in Korea. It’s getting easier and easier to find the perfect ghoulish thing to do.
Halloween in Korea | Festivals & Activities in 2021
We all know 2021 isn’t a normal year, but there are still a few Halloween events to be found around Korea. Following is a list of events and activities for celebrating Halloween in Korea. Nightclubs, bars, and restaurants may also be having their own events, but it’s best to check with your chosen venue before going.
Halloween at Everland | Blood City: Dark Xircus
September 23rd – November 21st, 2021
Every year, Everland throws a huge Halloween spectacle called Blood City: Dark Xircus, and this year is no different. The amusement park gets a freaky facelift in line with the spooky season. From zombie photo spots to horrifying thrill rides to an epic Halloween Wicked parade, there’s something to please revellers of all ages.
If you’re visiting with kids, be sure to visit the Four Seasons Garden, for Trick or Treat!
TIP | On Halloween, you’ll definitely want to stay as late into the night as possible. Your best bet is this package from Trazy that offers a return bus to Seoul at 8:30PM + discounted QR code admission tickets to Everland (the park closes at 9PM). If you’re traveling with family or a group, check out this roundtrip private transfer between Seoul and Everland for ultimate comfort and convenience.
Lotte World Adventure | Horror Halloween: The Escape
September 10th – November 21st, 2021
Lotte World Adventure has a ton of horrifying Halloween festivities planned. Half of this theme park is indoors, so it’s a good one to visit with kids. Events include a Halloween Party Parade (where candy is given out), Zombie Prison escape room, Zombie theatre and multiple Halloween themed performances.
Lotte World is an easy place to get to for Halloween in Korea. Access is via Jamsil Station in Seoul.
TIP | Get your admission tickets to Lotte World Adventure in advance, avoid the lines, and get a huge 40% discount off the price (35,200 won vs 59,000 won on-site)! Score discounted tickets to Lotte World here.
Seoul Land | Wicked Wonderland
September 11th – October 31st, 2021
At Seoul Land, you can get spooked at the Wicked Witch’s House, get a cosmic consultation with Wizard Boy Mutterl, or dance the night away at the Luna Fiesta. This is a perfect party to celebrate Halloween in Korea with kids!
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.
Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walking Tour
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.
Get spooked on the Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Tour.
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.
*Due to the nature of this tour, children under 18 are prohibited from joining.
TIP | There is a regular tour, and an extended tour available. I recommend booking the extended tour because it’s an hour longer, for not much more money! Book the Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Tour here.
Daegu E-World | Monster Attack
September 19th – November 1st, 2020
If you’re near Daegu, you can get unexpectedly attacked by monsters at Daegu E-World. Hang out around the Halloween-themed places, including Darkness House, Monster Race, Horror Powder Room, and Zombie Bartender for your chance to be scared out of your wits.
TIP | Score discounted (23,500 won vs 47,000 won onsite) Daegu E-World Day Pass + 83 Tower Observatory combo tickets, and enjoy all access privileges to the park and stunning views of the city from high above. Pre-book discounted tickets here.
How to Celebrate 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.
Where to Trick-or Treat
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.
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 aren’t happening in 2021, but they are sure to return with a vengeance, as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Huge crowds join expat trick or treat events every year
Pumpkin Family Farm Days at Bear Foot Gardens
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 is definitely one of the most popular.
At the event, you can choose a pumpkin from the farm to carve, and participate in various Halloween themed activities like a haunted house or making a witch’s broom. There’s also excellent food on offer (for an extra cost) if you get hungry on-site.
Where to find Halloween Costumes in Korea
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.
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.
All set for Halloween in Korea now? What have you got planned? Happy Halloween!
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!