10 Tempting Ways to Celebrate the New Year in Seoul 2023 [UPDATED 2022]

Was 2022 the fastest year on record, or am I just getting old? Wow – this one passed in a literal flash. Fortunately, it was a pretty good flash, and I’m ready to usher in a fresh New Year in Seoul. Are you?

Where will you celebrate the New Year in Seoul?

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• where to countdown to 2023 for New Year’s Eve in Seoul
• where to catch fireworks for the new year in Seoul
• the best places to watch the first sunrise of the year
• how to get around on New Year Eve’s in Seoul
• what to wear to be comfortable
• which areas are best to stay after a night of celebrating in Seoul

Celebrating the New Year in Seoul

Ringing in New Year’s Eve in Seoul doesn’t hold the same cultural significance as Seollal, but that doesn’t mean people don’t head out in force to celebrate the transition from one calendar year to another.

Where will you countdown the New Year in Seoul?

If you should find yourself celebrating the new year in Seoul, you’re in luck! Whether your vibe is a huge party with friends, gawking at fireworks, making a wish on a sunrise, or a luxury staycation with the family, you’ll be absolutely spoiled for choice.

Read on to discover the best parties, performances and events to attend in Seoul to countdown to 2023.

Wish lanterns released into the sky for New Year’s Eve in Korea © Kim Jiho, Korea Tourism Organization

*I’ll be updating this article as new events are announced, so check back closer to New Year’s Eve for updated info… Korea tends to post info last minute.

Where to Celebrate the New Year in Seoul

As New Year’s Eve in Seoul approaches, countdowns will be happening all over the city. Here’s some suggestions for where to countdown in Seoul.

Bosingak Bell-Ringing Ceremony | 보신각타종행사

Address: 54, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 종로구 종로 54 (관철동)

If you want to ring in the new year (literally), in the most traditional of ways, head over to Jongno and listen to the Bosingak Bell being rung 33 times. It’ll be rung by 16 different people, including the Mayor of Seoul, and followed by a fireworks display. It symbolizes prosperity and good luck for everyone for the following year.

On New Years Eve in Seoul, this bell is rung 33 times! Photo by Korea.net (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The ceremony starts at 11PM and ends around 1:30AM. Roughly 100,000 people head to Bosingak for this New Year in Seoul event, so be prepared for some crowds, getting there and back.

If you prefer to avoid the masses and the frigid temperatures of winter in Korea, this ceremony is also televised, so you can watch from the warmth and comfort of your home or hotel room.

READ NEXT: Myeongdong is close to everything. Here are 15 excellent hotels to book in Myeongdong for New Year’s Eve in Seoul.

Seoul Light at DDP | 서울라이트

Festival Dates: December 17th, 2022 – January 1st, 2023

Address:281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 중구 을지로 281 (을지로7가)

Seoul Light is a large-scale media light event that takes place multiple times a year at at Dongdaemun Design Plaza. The theme for this year is Universe – appropriately imagining that a spaceship has landed in the centre of Seoul.

There’s a special SeoulLight scheduled for NYE in Korea.

Regular shows run from 19:00 – 22:00, with special Christmas shows scheduled from December 22nd – 25th. On New Year’s Eve in Seoul, a special media art performance and countdown is planned starting from 11:50PM on December 31st.

It’s free to attend Get more details here.

Lotte World Tower Fireworks | 롯데월드타워

Address: 300, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 송파구 올림픽로 300

There’s usually an incredible display of fireworks off the Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, to mark the coming of the New Year in Seoul. This is the tallest building in Korea, with 123 stories, and it’s truly a sight to behold. Make no mistake about it. This will be dazzling.

The fireworks off Lotte World Tower for New Year in Seoul promise to be epic. Photo by Nchavance (CC BY-SA 4.0)

*There is no information for the 2023 event yet. I will update as it becomes available.

Starfield COEX Mall Fireworks | 스타필드 코엑스몰

Address: 513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 강남구 영동대로 513 (삼성동)

In 2022, Starfield Coex Mall surprised us with a drone show utilizing 600 different drones. Perhaps we’ll get a combination of fireworks AND drones to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Seoul in 2023.

Be sure to check out the Christmas Tree at Starfield Library inside the mall. It changes every year!

Previous year’s festivities have included a Coex Winter Festival, “Eat the Seoul” food truck market, daily musical performances on the DaOn Stage, and an ice skating rink at K-Pop Square. I’d expect something similar for the New Year in Seoul, this year.

Parties to Ring in the New Year in Seoul

Seoul is known for having an incredible nightlife, so New Year’s Eve in Seoul promises to be truly extraordinary. If your idea of celebrating equals DJs, dancing, parties and music, check out these events happening for the new year in Seoul.

Wanna celebrate the New Year in Seoul clubbing? There’s lots of choices © Chan Hyuk Moon / Unsplash

2023 Gatsby New Year’s Eve Countdown Party

When: December 31st, 2022 – January 1st, 2023, 21:00 – 3:00

Where: Some Sevit | 세빛섬 – 2085-14, Olympic-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 서초구 올림픽대로 2085-14

Put on your best Gatsby themed clothing and bring in the new year in Seoul at one of the city’s most stunning and iconic venues. After a 3 year pandemic hiatus, the Gatsby Party is FINALLY back for New Year’s Eve in Seoul 2023!

Prepare for an excellent night of performances, dancing, and prize giveaways, before counting down to the new year.

I don’t know about you, but personally, I can’t think of a more beautiful place to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Seoul than the Some Sevit Floating Islands at Banpo Hangang Park.

Book a Winter Staycation

With unique packages, decadent meals, and special offers, a staycation in a luxury hotel is an incredibly popular holiday activity for couples and families alike. It’s so popular, that hotels in Seoul are already 80% booked out until the end of 2023.

The Fairmont Ambassador has special meals at their Spectrum restaurant for New Year’s Eve in Seoul, while you can enjoy the Lucky Winter package at the JW Marriott Hotel.

And of course, the Grand Hyatt Seoul, with its stunning ice rink, is one of the best places to be during Christmas in Korea.

New Year in Seoul | Clubs

If you’re more of a fly by the seat of your pants kind of person, you could check out any of the big clubs, lounges, or hotels in Seoul. Many will be having special festivities to mark the dawn of the new decade.

*Events are just starting to be show up for 2023. I’ll update as soon as more info becomes available.

Clubs and Hotels to Celebrate New Years Eve in Seoul

• Mondrian Hotel Itaewon | Countdown to 2023 NYE Party | Book a room
• Dragon Hill Lodge | 2023 New Years Eve Party

Limited Edition Winter Tours in Korea

There’s plenty of of special events for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, but what will you do after? Don’t miss these events and activities that are only available for 2 or 3 months of the year.

Sledding is a great winter activity in Korea ⓒ KTO Lee Beomsu

• Elysian Ski Resort + Nami Island + the Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival | December 9th, 2022 – March 3rd, 2023
• Alpaca World + Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival | December 9th, 2022 – March 15th, 2023
• Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival, Snowy Land + Strawberry Picking | December 20th, 2022 – February 28th, 2023
• Vivaldi Park Snowy Land Sledding Tour | December 20th, 2022 – February 28th, 2023
• Eobi Ice Valley, Nami Island, and Strawberry Picking  | December 21st, 2022 – January 30th, 2023
• Cheongyang Alps Village Ice Fountain Festival | December 26th, 2022 – February 10th, 2023
• Ice Fishing and Snowflake Tour in Gangwondo | January 1st – February 12th, 2023
• Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival Tour from Seoul | January 14th – 24th, 2023
• Skiing, Snowboarding, and Sledding Tours across Korea | Various dates

Snow sculptures at the Daegwallyeong Snowflake Festival © Kim Jiho, Korea Tourism Organization

New Year in Seoul | Concerts

If your idea of a new year in Seoul celebration includes K-pop artists, you’re in luck. There are a few performances and concerts specifically being held on the last day of 2022.

Countdown Fantasy Seoul 2022-2023 | 카운트 다운 판타지

Dates: December 30th – 31st, 2022

Venue: Yes24 Live Hall, 20 Gucheonmyeon-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul

K-performances galore at Countdown Fantasy © MPMG

Celebrate the new year in Seoul at Countdown Fantasy. Performers include the likes of N.Flying, Lucy, Cnema, Lacuna, Silica Gel, Surl, Thornapple, and Soran, over the course of 2 days at Yes24 Live Hall.

Check for tickets here.

Countdown Seoul 2023

In typical years (like when there’s not a global pandemic), there’s a huge K-pop concert and party at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo to countdown the new year in Seoul. I’ll update this if this event goes ahead.

New Year in Korea | Watch the Sunrise

Festival Dates: December 31st, 2022 – January 1st, 2023

Making wishes on the first sunrise of the year is a traditional way to welcome a new year in Korea. It’s believed that these wishes are more powerful, bringing good luck for the entire year to come – so it’s a super popular way to spend the first day of the year.

Making wishes on the first sunrise of the year is a New Year in Korea tradition.

There are special sunrise events for the new year in Seoul, but it’s worth heading out of the city for a sunrise festival, if this is something you’re interested in.

Achasan Sunrise Festival | 아차산 해맞이축제

Address: 127, Walkerhill-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 광진구 워커힐로 127 (광장동)

The Achasan Sunrise Festival is a good one to visit if you don’t want to travel too far out of Seoul. It’s easy to access using public transportation, and it takes just 15 minutes to hike up to the viewing spot.

Be warned though – this is one of the more popular places to visit to watch a sunrise for the New Year in Seoul. Pre-pandemic, 40,000 visitors attended.

Wishes made on the first sunrise of the year are more powerful. Photo by Michael Kim/3-legged-crow@Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)

If Achasan is too far from you, you can check out Haneul Park or Maebongsan Mountain to make a wish for the New Year in Korea.

Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festival | 정동진 해맞이 축제 모래시계회전식

Festival Dates: December 31st, 2022 – January 1st, 2023

Address: Jeongdongjin2-ri, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do | 강원도 강릉시 강동면 정동진2리

Jeongdongjin is mostly known for that crazy cruise ship on a cliff (Sun Cruise Resort), but on New Year’s Eve, the bigger draw is Sandglass Park.

This massive sandglass is turned over on New Year’s Eve in Korea © Kim Jiho, Korea Tourism Organization

This sandglass is so huge that it takes an entire year for the sand to trickle completely through it. Weighing a whopping 40-tons, it’s turned over precisely at midnight on New Year’s Eve in Korea.

Homigot Sunrise Festival | 호미곶 한민족 해맞이축전

Festival Dates: December 31st, 2022 – January 1st, 2023

Address:136, Haemaji-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do | 경상북도 포항시 남구 호미곶면 해맞이로 136

At the Homigot Sunrise Festival, enjoy cultural performances, a fireworks show, sunrise concert and other inspirational events like kite-flying and launching hope balloons filled with wishes for the new year.

You’ll see this striking scene at Homigot Village © Kim Jiho, Korea Tourism Organization

Be sure to sample some free tteokguk – which is a traditional New Year’s Day dish for Koreans.

New Year in Seoul | Essential Info

Getting around on New Year’s Eve

Seoul Metro and most bus routes end just around midnight, so figuring out how to get around on New Year’s Eve in Seoul is one of the biggest concerns people have… especially if you plan to celebrate right into 2023.

Fortunately, there are a few options, that don’t involve desperately chasing down high-demand taxis, in the freezing cold.

Partying into late into the night? Photo by tylerdurden1 (CC BY 2.0)

Seoul Subway

You can take the Seoul subway until 2AM. While there hasn’t been a formal announcement about this yet, subway hours have typically been extended until around 2AM for the new year in Seoul.

Take an “Owl” Bus

Owl bus routes run after midnight. Fares are typically double what they are during the daytime. During New Year’s Eve in Seoul, 4 additional Owl routes are being added. They’ll run until 3:30AM and connect with other typical night bus routes. Find more info here.

What to wear on New Year’s Eve in Seoul

If you plan to be outside for any length of time, be sure to bundle up. Seoul’s weather has a way of sneaking up on you. It feels okay at first, but once it seeps into your bones, getting warm is pretty much impossible. It’s intensely cold in Korea during winter, especially after the sun goes down.

New Year’s Eve in Seoul can be incredibly cold. Dress warm!

I recommend thermals or heattechs, hot packs in your pockets, warm gloves, thick socks, hat or earmuffs, and a parka of some kind. If it’s a windy evening, you can also consider a scarf or mask to cover your face. (You can pick facemasks up in any convenience store or pharmacy).

Essentially, you should try to cover as much of your exposed skin as possible, when you’re outside.

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