Cultural Events, Seoul

Daily:
Changing of the Palace Guard occurs every day except Mondays at 11:00 / 14:00 and 15:30. The event takes place at Daehanmun and Deoksugung (Palace). There’s also a guard patrol ceremony from Deoksugung to Sungryemun. The Watchman Ceremony at Sungryemun goes on from 10:00 to 16:00. Tel: 02-3707-9453 (may be Korean-only speaker). No website. Admission: free.

Special dates only: (for more details check K4E's What's Going On or contact 02-1330/82-3-1330 from outside Korea or google tourism korea).

MARCH:
Seoul International Marathon crosses through the heart of the city with traffic tightly controlled for the duration. People of all nations participate. Website: http://marathon.donga.com/

APRIL:
Royal Wedding Ceremony of Emperor Gojong and Empress Myeongseong Re-enactment takes place on the third Saturday of April and the second Saturday of October from 15:00 to 17:00 at Unheyongung (Palace) Tel: 02-3707-9431. Admission: free. Info: 02-3707-9431/6 (may not be English-speaker).

MAY:
Hi Seoul Festival is a week-long event that takes place in early May in the City Hall area and along the Han River. For more info contact 02-922-2861/3 or visit. Note: Starting 2008 it will be held seasonally, so that there will be a Spring (May) Summer (August), Fall (October) and Winter (December/January)Festival. Website: http://www2.hiseoulfest.org

Jongmyodaeje and the Royal Carriage Procession is held on the first Sunday of May at the Jongmyo Jeongjeon. For info: contact 02-765-2124. The event is organized by the Royal Ancestral Rite Preservation Society.

Lotus Lantern Festival celebrates Buddha’s Birthday on Lunar Calendar 8 April (therefore May). Tel: 02-2100-1747. Website: www.llf.or.kr/

SEPTEMBER:
Seoul Medicinal Herb Market Festival includes a memorial Service, a Shaman street rite, free herbal medicine consultation, an exhibition of medicinal herbs, an herb-chopping contest and more. Tel: 02-969-4793 (Korean-speaker only).
Sajikdaeje named for the god that manages land ‘Sa’ and the god who oversees grains ‘Jik” is a traditional rite performed in honor of these two gods and to express the wish for peace and good harvests. Held in Sajik-dong Sajikan. Tel: 02-765-2124 (likely Korean-only speaker).

September or October:Chuseok if one of the two major Korean holidays (the other is Lunar New Year in January/February). Chuseok celebrates the harvest and the full moon. It is a time of year when people return to their family hometowns to pay respect to their ancestors. Among other rituals, they clean the family tomb(s) and prepare special foods. The highways become one gigantic parking lot so it’s a good time to take advantage of the various events and activities on offer in Seoul. 

OCTOBER:
Royal Wedding Ceremony of Emperor Gojong and Empress Myeongseong Re-enactment takes place on the third Saturday of April and the second Saturday of October from 15:00 to 17:00 at Unheyongung (Palace) Tel: 02-3707-9431. Admission: free. Info: 02-3707-9431/6 (may be English-speaker).

Seoul Drum Festival is held each October on Seoul Plaza and other areas near City Hall and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. Tel: 02-399-1106/7.

Seoul International Fireworks Festival is held in October each year in the Hangang Park area, in front of the 63 Building from about 20:00 (lasting about 60 minutes).  Tel: 02-729-1718 (Korean-only speaker likely).

NOVEMBER:
Kimchi Expo at the COEX features traditional Korean kimchi, functional kimchi, newly developed kimchi and other varieties of kimchi. Visitors can prepare their own kimchi as well as receive some free. Website: http://kimchi.munhwa.com



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Last Updated on 2015-09-27