Christmas is the one event that makes winter feel happier.
For me, one of the biggest reasons I look forward to Christmas is… the Christmas markets!
Christmas markets are actually still pretty new in Korea.
If you’ve been to Korea in December before, you might have noticed that Korea doesn’t go all-out for Christmas like many European countries do.
“Christmas in Korea” used to mean some decorations inside and outside department stores, Christmas events at theme parks or churches, and a few cafés or restaurants putting up small Christmas trees. That was about it.
The first European-style outdoor Christmas market in Korea only started around 2015.
That year, the Seoul city government hosted a European-style night Christmas market in Seoul Plaza for the first time. After that, the city expanded it to places like Yeouido and DDP and continued to run it every year.
Thanks to that, other cities like Busan also started hosting their own Christmas market festivals.
Fast forward to today:
Seoul now hosts several Christmas markets every December, from city-hosted festivals to big corporate events.
In this post, I’ll walk you through five Christmas markets in Seoul worth visiting for Christmas 2025.
(And just to be clear, there is no sponsorship in this post.)
The Two Biggest Christmas Markets in Seoul
The two biggest Christmas markets in Seoul are Gwanghwamun Market at Gwanghwamun Square and Lotte Town Christmas Market in Jamsil.
If you’ve never been to a Christmas market in Korea before, these are the perfect places to start.
1. Gwanghwamun Market
Gwanghwamun Market is essentially Seoul’s signature Christmas market.
In 2024 alone, it attracted around 1.64 million visitors, and every year the decorations and overall setup keep getting better.
For 2025, the theme is “Santa Village in a Winter Fairy Tale.”
Over 100 local small business owners are expected to join the market. Their booths are decorated with red roofs and Christmas wreaths, and next to the statue of King Sejong, a 15m (about 49 ft) Christmas tree will be set up.
You’ll also find cute photo spots with nutcracker soldiers, Santa, sleighs, and other festive displays.
It’s a great place to pick up unique Christmas goods, grab some snacks, and take tons of photos under all the lights.
📍 Location: Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul
- A short walk from Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) and Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5)
🗓️ Dates:
- December 12–31, 2025
- Open every day, 17:30–21:30
- On December 31, it’s open until midnight
🎟️ Admission:
- Free (you only pay for what you buy at the booths)
2. Lotte Town Christmas Market
The Lotte Town Christmas Market is one of Seoul’s most popular winter date spots.
This year, it’s been expanded to around 2,645㎡ (about 28,500 sq ft), making it the biggest version so far.
There’s a two-story merry-go-round and a 13m (about 43 ft) Christmas tree, so if you love taking photos (or posting on Instagram/TikTok/Facebook), this place is basically a dream.
Just like Gwanghwamun Market, you’ll find various food, drinks, and Christmas goods to enjoy while you stroll around.
One thing to note: Entry is managed by advance reservation, especially for the night session.
Tickets tend to sell out quickly, so I recommend booking as early as you can.
📍 Location: World Park (lawn square) at Lotte World Tower in Jamsil
- Close to Jamsil Station (Line 2 & Line 8)
🗓️ Dates:
- November 20, 2025 – January 4, 2026
- Day session: 11:00–16:00
- Night session: 16:00–22:00
🎟️ Admission:
- Day: Free
- Night: ₩5,000 per person
Want to See More? 3 Other Christmas Market Spots in Seoul
If you’ve already checked off the two big markets and want to discover more Christmas vibes around Seoul, here are three more places to add to your list.
3. Seongsu-dong Christmas Market
This Christmas market is a collaboration between McDonald’s Korea and around 60 young local vendors.
Think of it as a Seongsu-style flea market with a Christmas twist — small local brands setting up booths, selling handmade items, crafts, and seasonal snacks.
One fun highlight here is the special Christmas tree made out of McDonald’s cups and French fry boxes.
If you like slightly unique, Instagrammable Christmas spots, this one will be right up your alley.
📍 Location: Understand Avenue, near Seoul Forest
- Close to Seoul Forest Station (Suin–Bundang Line)
🗓️ Dates:
- December 12–21, 2025
- Open every day, 13:00–20:00
🎟️ Admission: Free
4. Ttukseom Romantic Hangang Christmas Market
Ttukseom Hangang (Han River) Park, where people usually spread out picnic mats and eat ramyeon and fried chicken in summer, transforms into a Romantic Christmas Market in winter.
During the event, the park will have a market zone with around 40 booths selling Christmas gifts and small items, a food zone with winter snacks and international street food, and a photo zone decorated with Christmas trees, cookie houses, and cute light installations.
Just like its name suggests, you can expect a cozy and romantic atmosphere.
If you like small, cute details and want something a bit softer than the huge city events, this place is perfect.
📍 Location: Ttukseom Hangang Park
- Close to Jayang Station (Line 7)
🗓️ Dates:
- December 19–25, 2025
- Open every day, 14:00–21:00
🎟️ Admission: Free
5. The Hyundai Seoul – “Harry’s Christmas Workshop”
Unlike the markets above, which are all outdoors, this one is an indoor Christmas village.
For 2025, The Hyundai Seoul has created a theme called “Harry’s Christmas Workshop,” featuring a baby bear character named Harry.
Inside the mall, they’ve built a miniature village with wooden houses, Christmas trees, and cozy decorations, along with the Harry Shop, where you can buy Christmas edition goods and character items.
Instead of wandering around an outdoor European-style flea market, this is more about staying warm indoors, walking through beautifully designed spaces, and taking aesthetic photos with the installations and displays.
If you want a Christmas vibe without freezing outside, this is a great option.
📍 Location: The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido
- Close to Yeouinaru Station (Line 5) and Yeouido Station (Line 5 & 9)
🗓️ Dates:
- Open until December 31, 2025
- Open everyday, 10:00–20:00 (weekends until 20:30)
🎟️ Admission: Free
Wishing You a Magical Christmas in Seoul!
Just writing this post is already making me excited for Christmas!
One thing that’s very clear is that Seoul’s Christmas markets get better every single year.
With about two weeks left until Christmas, why not pick a few of these and visit them one by one?
Who knows, maybe we’ll end up standing in the same line for hot chocolate, or taking photos under the same giant tree without even realizing it. 😉
Wherever you decide to go, I hope your Christmas in Korea is filled with warmth, good food, and lots of happy memories. 🎄✨