How To Celebrate New Year’s Eve In Seoul
Ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Korea? Like many places around the world, on New Year’s Eve there are parties galore across the country from Seoul to Busan and everywhere in between. But I think it should be noted that traditionally, January 1st is celebrated with a sunrise hurrah not a midnight kiss. These days there is a lot to do from night to morning though.
Whether you want to celebrate traditional Korean style or are looking for where to countdown in Seoul or maybe where to see fireworks in Seoul, there is plenty to do to ring in the New Year in Seoul.
There are numerous ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Seoul and Korea. Whether you’re looking for a countdown or a morning sunrise, here’s what you can look forward to:
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How To Celebrate New Year’s Eve In Seoul
There is a lot to do in Seoul for New Year’s Eve. Keep reading to find the best hotels to book for New Year’s Eve in Seoul, where to see fireworks, and even the best places to watch the first sunrise of the year in Seoul.
Ring In The New Year With A Tolling Bell
If you’ve walked out of Jonggak Subway Station at any point on your visit to Seoul, you might have noticed the traditional Bosingak Belfry (보신각타종행사). In the Joseon Dynasty period, the bell was rung when the Seoul Fortress Wall gates were opened and then closed each day. These days, people sign up to ring the bell daily, but it’s mostly unnoticed by pedestrians in the downtown area. On December 31st, however, that all changes. It is the center of celebrations in downtown Seoul.
Tens of thousands of people gather outside in frigid temperatures to see the ringing of the bell. The bell is rung a total of 33 times at midnight and then fireworks shoot into the sky. If you don’t want to stand outside in the cold, you can also watch and listen to the televised spectacle from the comfort of your own home.
- Address: 54 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 종로 54)
See Fireworks & Countdown
There are a couple of great places to see dazzling fireworks for the New Year’s Eve celebration in Seoul usually.
At COEX (코엑스)
COEX hosts a huge fireworks display to celebrate the New Year each year. It’s a magnificent display that lights up the sky.
- Address: 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강남구 영동대로 513 (삼성동))
- Where To Stay: Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas and Oakwood Premier are just outside of COEX making them the best places to stay nearby.
- How To Get There: Take the subway to either Samseong Station or Bongeunsa Station and you’ll be able to walk right out to COEX.
- Website: www.coex.co.kr/
At Lotte Tower (롯데월드타워)
Lotte Tower, the tallest building in Korea, is host to a magnificent fireworks display twice a year and New Year’s Eve is one of them. FYI! Lotte Tower just announced that for 2023 they will host an LED light show countdown on the building that doesn’t seem to include fireworks.
- Address: 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 송파구 올림픽로 300)
- Where To Stay: Signiel Hotel is an AMAZING place to stay RIGHT in the tower. We’ve stayed twice. I highly recommend it.
- How To Get There: Head to Jamsil Station and you can walk right out to Lotte Tower and Lotte Mall.
- Website: www.lwt.co.kr
NYE Countdown! Ice Palace
Head to Sebitseom, the five story floating island on the Han River for a roaring good time. The location is fantastic and has been the host of amazing parties for the likes of Maserati and Ferrari. Expect unlimited wine, beer, champagne, live performances, finger food, a DJ and tons of fun!
- Address: Sebitseom, 683 Olympic-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울시 서초구 오림픽대로 683, 세빛섬)
- Book in advance: Make sure you get your tickets in advance to get a discounted rate and ensure you get a spot.
See SeouLight
Head to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza to see the 22o meter façade transformed with lights to create a surreal world of lights. The performance with light and music takes place every hour on the hour from 7:00pm to the last showing at 10:00pm. The performance lasts for 12 minutes so don’t be late.
- Address: 281 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 을지로 281 (을지로7가))
- Where To Stay: JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul is a great place to stay just down the road. Enjoy a night in Dongdaemun.
- How To Get There: Head to the Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station and go out of exit 1.
- Website: www.ddp.or.kr
- Tour: Trazy has a pretty epic tour to celebrate NYE in both western and Korean traditional fashion. See Seoul Light at the DDP and then hop a bus to the east coast to see the sunrise. Check out this unique opportunity.
Enjoy A Party & A Staycation
A lot of hotels around Seoul host elaborate parties that often include dinner and drinks. A hotel is a divine place to ring in the New Year. Get some fantastic food and enjoy a 5-star stay. Also, if you haven’t noticed, it’s amazingly difficult to get a taxi these days, so just plan to stay the night wherever you’ll be out.
Some hotels that usually host New Year’s Eve events in Seoul include: Vista Walkerhill Seoul, Park Hyatt Seoul, InterContinental Seoul COEX, Grand Hyatt Seoul, Conrad Seoul, JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul, and the Westin Josun Seoul.
See The Sunrise From A Mountaintop in Seoul
You can climb up a lot of mountains… there are quite a few in Seoul, but one of the easier “mountaintops” is Sky Park. Host to the Haneul Park Sunrise Festival (하늘공원해맞이행사) each year, head up the easy to walk path to see the sunrise out over the Han River, write New Year’s wishes, and see some performances.
- Address: 95 Haneulgongwon-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 마포구 하늘공원로 95 (상암동))
- Tips: Sunrise is usually around 7:30am so you can take your time getting up there but note that they usually close off the steps so that people don’t slip on any ice so everyone headed there should walk up the main roads that go up to the top.
Dance It Up At A Club
Clubs across the city usually host awesome dance parties. I’ve been out of the club scene for awhile, but if I were still in it, the best spot to find a party is on Facebook. Just head over and check out the events all lined up. Look into things going on at Octagon in Gangnam, NB2 in Mapo, and Cakeshop in Itaewon.
How To Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Korea
Watch The First Sunrise
Rather than ringing in the New Year at midnight, a lot of Koreans head to the tallest mountains near them or to the east coast of Korea to watch the first sunrise. Koreans believe that wishes made while watching that first sunrise of the year are the most powerful so if you need some good juju in the coming year, maybe this is the best way for you to celebrate.
If you plan to head to the coast, look into renting a car. Renting a car is easy with Klook. Here are the best places to watch the first sunrise of the year in Korea:
Gangneung, Korea
Gangneung is an especially popular spot for Seoulites to get away to because it’s so easy by just hopping on a train. There are two major sunrise festivals in Gangneung including: the Gyeongpo Sunrise Festival (경포해맞이축제) and the Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festival (정동진 해맞이 축제 모래시계회전식).
- Address: Gyeongpo Sunrise Festival: 514 Changhae-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 강릉시 창해로 514 (안현동)); Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festival: Jeongdongjin2-ri, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 강릉시 강동면 정동진2리)
- Join a Tour: There’s a Trazy tour from Seoul that will take you out to Jeongdongjin Beach. Or, a tour to Sokcho Beach in the same region.
- Where To Stay: St. John’s Hotel and Skybay Hotel Gyeongpo are fantastic places to stay in Gangneung.
- How To Get There: Get out to Gangneung on the KTX. From Seoul Station to Gangneung Station, it takes 2 hours and costs between W22,000 and W35,000 depending on what seats you choose.
Seongsan Ilchulbong, Jeju, Korea
The Seongsan Sunrise Festival (제주성산일출축제) is held annually and features a more holistic festival of celebrations as it seeks to spread the natural values of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, an UNESCO World Nature Heritage site. I just stayed at a hotel here this past year on vacation and the sunrise, whether it’s January 1st or not, is gorgeous.
- Address: 284-12 Ilchul-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 서귀포시 성산읍 일출로 284-12)
- Where To Stay: Phoenix Seopjikoji is the perfect place to stay with a view of Ilchulbong or stay right within walking distance at Co-Op City Hotel Seongsan.
- How To Get There: Get ready for fun. Here are the options for how to travel to Jeju Island.
- Website: www.Sunrisefestival.kr
Ulsan, Korea
The Ganjeolgot Sunrise Festival (울산 간절곶 해맞이축제) is a popular place on the east coast for the sunrise. There are fireworks displays, tteokguk to eat, and performances for visitors. The festival starts at sunset on December 31st and is filled with fun throughout the night that culminates with the first light of the year.
- Address: 39-2, Ganjeolgot 1-gil, Ulju-gun, Ulsan (울산광역시 울주군 서생면 간절곶1길 39-2 (서생면))
- Join a Tour: There’s a tour on Trazy from Busan out to Ulsan.
- Where To Stay: Find a hotel in Ulsan on Booking.com
- How To Get There: Take a KTX train from Seoul to Ulsan Station. It takes a bit under 2.5 hours.
Pohang, Korea
The Homigot Sunrise Festival (호미곶 한민족 해맞이축전) is one of the most popular places for sunrise viewing and is home to the iconic hand that is reaching out of the ocean. As the easternmost point of the Korean peninsula, this is the “first” place that see the sunrise. Homigot Village means “a village on a tiger’s tail” referencing the Korean peninsula looking like a tiger. Wouldn’t it be fun to celebrate January 1st on a tiger’s tail?
- Address: 136 Haemaji-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 포항시 남구 호미곶면 해맞이로 136)
- Join a Tour: There’s a Trazy tour from Busan to Homigot.
- Where To Stay: Find a hotel in Pohang on Booking.com
- How To Get There: Take a KTX train from Seoul to Pohang Station. It takes 2.5 hours.
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