Where to Celebrate New Year's In Korea | 2025 Korea New Year's Guide

Can you believe that 2024 is already almost over? The year flew by so quickly! A lot has happened in 2024, and now that the new year is just around the corner, it's time to reflect and celebrate the past year and welcome 2025. If you're going to be in Korea on New Year's Eve, there are many events you can attend to celebrate the new year! 

*If you plan on celebrating New Year's at any of these events, please keep in mind that there may be high volumes of people and exercise caution. 

New Year's Eve in Korea | 2025 Guide

1) Seoul Bosingak Bell-Ringing Ceremony | 서울 보신각 제야의종

The biggest New Year's Eve event in Korea is the Bosiingak Bell-Ringing Ceremony in Jonggak, Seoul. The historical bell is also known as the New Year's Eve Bell (제야의 종), which is struck 33 times on the last day of the year.

Credit: Seoul Culture Portal

This is one of the biggest New Year's Eve events and many public figures like the Seoul mayor and even famous celebrities attend. It's a great way to bring in the New Year!

Location: 54 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울 종로구 종로 54

Time: Tuesday, December 31, 2024 23:15 ~ Wednesday, January 1, 2025 00:30

Precautions:

• Roads are likely to be blocked around Bosingak during this event.
• The subway will not be making stops at Jonggak Station Line 1 from 23:00 ~ 1:00.
• Public transportation service hours will be extended to 2:00 on January 1, 2025.

2) Seoul Lotte World Tower Countdown | 서울 롯데월드타워 카운트다운

Credit: YouTube @lotteworldtower_official

The Lotte Tower Countdown is one of Korea’s most dazzling New Year’s Eve events, featuring stunning fireworks and a high-tech LED show on the iconic Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, Seoul. 

Credit: YouTube @lotteworldtower_official

Thousands gather around the tower and Seokchon Lake to watch as the skyline comes alive with lights, music, and visuals. It’s an unforgettable way to ring in the New Year in style!

Location: 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
서울 송파구 올림픽로 300

Countdown Schedule: December 31, 2024 23:55 ~ January 1, 2025 12:10

Where to Watch:

• Lotte World Mall Outdoor Plaza
• Seokchon Lake
• Ttukseom Hangang Park / Jamsil Hangang Park
• Olympic Bridge / Gwangjin Bridge

3) Seoul Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP): Seoul Light New Year's Countdown | 서울라이트 DDP 새해맞이 카운트다운

Credit: DDP Official Site

The 'Seoul Light' event at DDP is held from December 19-31, 2024, and is titled '5 Cheers!: A Relay of Hope and Encouragement'. On the 31st, there will be a countdown to 2025!

Credit: DDP Official Site

At the Seoul Light exhibit, you can see all kinds of amazing, colorful digital productions and then celebrate the end of the year! 

Location: 281 Eulji-ro, Euljiro 7-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울 중구 을지로7가 을지로 281

New Year's Countdown Schedule: December 31, 2024 23:00 ~ January 1, 2025 01:30

Precautions: 

• This event will take place on the 222m outer wall on the west side of DDP.
• The Bosingak Bell-Ringing Ceremony will also be broadcasted live at DDP.

4) Seoul Myeongdong Shinsegae Square 2025 Countdown Show Light Now | 서울 명동 신세계 백화점 2025 카운트다운 쇼 라이트 나우

Credit: Shinsegae Official Site

Myeongdong is a very popular tourist destination for food, shopping, and sightseeing, and has recently become a new signature spot for the New Year's countdown!

Credit: eyesmag

There is a huge LED screen on the outside of the Myeongdong Shinsegae Department store called Shinsegae Square, reminiscent of Times Square in New York. You can enjoy an exciting New Year's countdown here!

Location: 63 Sogong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울 중구 소공로 63 신세계백화점본점

New Year's Countdown Schedule: December 31, 2024 23:00 ~ January 1, 2025 01:30

5) Gwangalli 2025 Countdown Busan | 광알리 2025 카운트다운 부산

Credit: Busan Street YouTube Channel

If you're going to be in the Busan area, you definitely want to check out the New Year's countdown event at Gwangalli Beach! 

Credit: Countdown Busan 2025

From celebratory performances to the famous drone show, you'll certainly end 2024 in an exciting way! You can refer to the schedule above.

Credit: Countdown Busan 2025

If you can't go to the show, you can watch the livestream on the follow YouTube channels:

• knntoday 
• suyeonggutv

Location: Gwangalli Beach (Busan Subway Line 2 Gwangan Station Exit 5)

Time: December 31st, 2024 22:00 ~ January 1st, 2025 00:10

6) Year-End Awards Ceremonies | 연말 시상식

Broadcasting Stations: KBS, SBS, & MBC

2021 MBC Gayo Daejaejeon

At the end of each year, there are many year-end awards shows that occur to celebrate the end of a year full of K-pop and Korean dramas & films. The artists and actors/actresses that worked hard throughout the year are given awards and there are many special performances as well! 

2022 SBS Gayo Daejeon (Credit: Soompi)

2022 KBS Gayo Daechukje (Credit: KBS)

Most of these awards shows take place mid-end December, with some of the shows broadcasting past midnight on the 31st into the new year! You can refer to the table below to see information about the major year-end awards shows.

If you're interested in going to any of these award shows or other K-pop events, check out the link below to book tickets!

K-Pop Concerts & Events

7) 2025 New Year's Day Sunrise

Many Koreans enjoy celebrating the new year by going on a trip somewhere they can greet the new year by watching the first sunrise. Let's see some of the most popular spots for watching the sunrise!

1. Pohang Homigot Sunrise Square | 호미곶 해맞이광장

Located on the east coast of Korea is the Homigot Sunrise Square, one of the most famous spots for watching the sunrise on New Year's Day. Homigot means 'village on a tiger's tail', as the South Korean peninsula is said to be shaped like a tiger. The most famous point of this sunrise spot is the 'Hand of Harmony', which is a large hand sticking straight out of the ocean. 

Location: 20 Haemaji-ro 150beon-gil, Homigot-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
경상북도 포항시 남구 호미곶면 해맞이로150번길 20)

2. Gangneung Jeongdongjin Sunrise Park | 정동진 해맞이 축제

Gangneung is a very popular spot to visit the beach year-round and is especially popular on New Year's as it is a great place to watch the sunrise! 

Credit: Korea Tourism Organization

There is a large sandglass that has a diameter of 8.06 meters and weighs 40 tons! It takes an entire year for the sand to spill to the bottom, then it's reset every year at midnight on New Year's Day!

Location: Jeongdongjin Sandglass Park, Jeongdongjin-ri 569 beon-ji, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si
강릉시 강동면 정동진리 569번지 모래시계공원

3. N Seoul Tower | N 서울 타워

If you want to stay in Seoul to watch the sunrise on January 1st, you can go to Namsan Park, where N Seoul Tower is located. It's the perfect place to get a view of the city and the open skyline!

Location: 105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
서울 용산구 남산공원길 105

4. Jeju Island Seongsan Sunrise Festival | 제주도 성산일출봉

Jeju Island is a beautiful vacation spot and has all kinds of natural landmarks that are famous among both Koreans and foreigners. Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the perfect place to watch the sunrise. 

Location: Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, Jeju Island
제주도 서귀포시 성산읍 일출로 284-12

5. Yeosu Hyangiram Sunrise Festival | 여수 향일암일출제

Yeosu, located on the southern coast of Korea, is a very popular spot to watch the sunrise on New Year's as well. Every year, there are cultural celebrations and fireworks to celebrate the coming of the new year! 

Location: 70-4, Hyangiram-ro, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do
전라남도 여수시 돌산읍 향일암로 70-4

8) Jeju Shinhwa World 2025 Countdown | 제주신화월드 카운트다운 2025

Jeju Shinhwa World is a large resort on Jeju Island that holds a New Year's countdown party every year! The festival features performances from famous Korean artists and a countdown to the new year.

Credit: Jeju Shinhwa World Official Site

The concert starts at 18:00 and continues throughout the night until the countdown to 2025! The concert is free to guests that stay at the hotel. You can look for bookings here!

Location: 38 Shinhwayeoksa-ro 304 beon-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju
제주 서귀포시 안덕면 신화역사로304번길 38

Time: December 31, 2024 18:00 - January 1, 2025 00:15

Winter Activities to Enjoy in Korea

1) Strawberry-Picking Experiences

Uniquely, strawberry picking is a popular winter activity here in Korea! It's currently strawberry season so the strawberries are super fresh and sweet. You can't experience winter in Korea without trying the juicy strawberries! Click the links below to book strawberry-picking tours outside Seoul!

2) Ski Resorts

You can't have a proper winter holiday without going skiing or snowboarding! Korea has a multitude of various ski resorts available during the winter, and it's considered a must-do winter activity.

Go on a day trip or spend a couple of days at the resort! Check out all the different ski tours available below:

3) Cheongyang Alps Village Ice Festival

Every winter, the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival is held in Cheongyang-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, where winter scenery like the movie Frozen comes to life! Enjoy Korea's winter in the Cheongyang Alps Village while also trying out fun winter activities like bobsledding and ice skating,

More Korea Travel Guides

We hope you had a great year and can enjoy the new year in Korea! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com. You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!