The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Nov. 21 said that from Dec. 13 to Jan. 5, it will host Seoul Winter Festa 2024 in major downtown spots. Shown is a scene from the 2023 Seoul Lantern Festival that ran from Dec. 15, 2023, through Jan. 21 this year at Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggye Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Seoul Plaza.

By Lee Dasom

Photos = Seoul Metropolitan Government
 

A series of colorful light festivals will light up downtown Seoul this winter.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Nov. 21 said it will host Seoul Winter Festa 2024, the country's largest event for the season, at the six sites of Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggye Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Seoul Plaza, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and Bosingak Belfry.

The theme of this year's festival is "Soul Prism," referring to the lights of diverse hearts in Seoul. The displays will include colorful media art, illuminated sculptures and spaces with beautiful lanterns to express Seoul's appearance through light covering tradition and modernity, art and technology, and city and nature. 

First, the leading media art program "Seoul Light" will be held at Gwanghwamun Square and DDP. Under the theme "Luminous Axis," "Seoul Light Gwanghwamun" will be held from Dec. 13 to Jan. 5 and "Seoul Light DDP" from Dec. 19 to Jan. 1 under the theme "Viva Winta."

Another unmissable event is the Seoul Lantern Festival from Dec. 13 to Jan. 12 in and around Cheonggyecheon Stream. Under the theme "Soul Lantern," this year's gala will feature some 240 displays of winter experiences with tradition and modern play. 

From Dec. 20 to Feb. 9, the Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink will be open. This space will be decorated to evoke memories of bygone days when Koreans went ice sledding and played paengi chigi (spinning a top).

A 14 m-tall Christmas tree will decorate Gwanghwamun Square during the festival. Visitors there can also shop at a Christmas market and see an exhibition themed on the Netflix mega-hit series "Squid Game." 

The annual bell-ringing ceremony on New Year's Eve will begin at 11:35 p.m. on Dec. 31 at Bosingak Belfry. This year's event will feature the sculpture "The Midnight Sun," with a 30-m diameter sun twice as large as the one at last year's event to rise with the ringing of the bell.

More information is available on the festival's official website (www.winta.co.kr).

This is the official promotional poster for Seoul Winter Festa 2024.