Seoul: The Seoul city government announced on Thursday its plans to launch the Seoul Winter Festa 2024, a large-scale winter festival set to commence on December 13 and run until January 5. This year's festival, titled "soul prism," will feature a dazzling display of media arts, spectacular media facades, and radiant sculptures that highlight the multifaceted nature of Seoul.According to Yonhap News Agency, last year's festival drew approximately 7.4 million visitors, demonstrating its popularity. This year's event will begin with the illumination of Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggye Stream at 6 p.m., followed by an opening ceremony held at the ceremonial stage in front of Gyeongbok Palace's Gwanghwamun gate, known as "woldae."The festival will showcase media art installations by four renowned international artists in Gwanghwamun Square, while five artists will create media facades at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). A 14-meter-high Christmas tree will adorn Gwanghwamun Square, accompanied by a Christmas market themed "Santa's Town."On New Year's Eve, the festival will feature a 30-meter-wide sun sculpture, named the Midnight Sun, behind Bosingak Pavilion. Civil representatives will ring the bell 33 times, and LED wristbands worn by 15,000 participants and tourists will light up the area. Yang Jeong-woong, the festival director, expressed his vision to establish the Seoul Winter Festa as a leading global festival and brand.
- October 12, 2026
