Seoul Shines: 2025 Seoul Lantern Festival Lights Up Cheonggyecheon and Ui-cheon
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
The 17th Seoul Lantern Festival runs from Dec 12 to Jan 4 along Cheonggyecheon and Ui-cheon, featuring over 400 illuminated installations and media art under the theme “My Light, Our Dream, Seoul’s Magic.” The festival blends tradition and modernity with hanji lanterns (traditional Korean paper lanterns), audio and fog effects, and large-scale works like the “Aurora of Light.” Four themed zones—Miracle Seoul, Golden Secret, Dream Light and Seoul Fantasia—present historical scenes (including the first electric lights at Gyeongbokgung and Seoul’s early tram), K-culture–inspired pieces such as the “gat-lantern” (traditional hat) and a popular collaboration with Pokémon Korea displaying 100 Magikarp (잉어왕/잉어킹) figures across a 73m stretch. Ui-cheon will host 50+ artworks including a revived “royal barge procession” and a time-travel themed installation. Corporate and international participants include Pok émon Korea, Nongshim (celebrating Shin Ramyun’s 40th anniversary), Taiwan Tourism, Prague and Czech tourism, EMK Musical Company, and local city exhibits. The festival is part of the 2025 Seoul Winter Festa, linking seven winter events across the city.
