Places to Visit in Seoul During New Year’s Day

Mingi Woo

With the winter holidays behind us, it is time to look to the upcoming New Year. With the covid restriction slowing receding, it is a great opportunity to visit the different site during the new Normal.

1. Bosingak Bell

In Korea, one of the most traditional and iconic landmarks during the New Year is the Bosingak Bell in Seoul, Jongno. Jongno’s street name is derived from the Bosingak bell, which directly translates to Bell Street. This bell was constructed in 1396 during the Joseon Dynasty and was used to announce the opening and closing of the Four Great Gates of Seoul (Bukdaemun, Dongdaemun, Namdaemun, Seodaemun). Now the bell is only rung 33 times during midnight on New Year’s Eve. Beware, thousands of Koreans come to see the event, and subway Line 1 might not stop at Jonggak Station during New Year’s Eve.

• Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)

If you are looking for a more modern experience for your New Year’s event head down to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Eulji-ro. The event that takes place in DDP is called “Seoul Light” which utilizes modern artificial technology followed by the large display screen on all sides of the building to create a light show. This year’s event is orchestrated by Beom Min, an artist famous for his work “Hello Man”, which is a graphic of a man who raises his hand to greet. This year’s countdown will have a tiger Hello Man symbolizing this year and a rabbit Hello Man symbolizing 2023. The New Year’s countdown is also available online in real-time.

• Bugak Palgakjeong

If you are looking for a more casual place to visit. Try traveling to Bugak mountain. At the top, where Palgakjeong is located, is a magnificent view of the city. People come here during the New Year to see the sunrise, which represents the start of a new year. If you don’t like climbing a mountain, you won’t have to worry since there is a road to the top for vehicles. This road provides a great driving experience for friends and families where people can appreciate nature and the panoramic view of the entire city.

These are just a few places that I recommend visiting for the New Year. Take this advice with a grain of salt because there are more events that the city offers.