What's On in Seoul

Seoul is a vibrant cultural hub that hosts a plethora of cultural festivals as well as world-class performing arts and creative events throughout the year. That said, expats shouldn't restrict themselves to the Korean capital, as South Korea's compact size and excellent public transport network mean that visitors can explore the rest of the country with relative ease.

Other large cities such as Busan and Incheon are only a few hours away by express train, and also host several festivals and events throughout the year.

Annual events in Seoul

New Year Festival (January/February)

A three-day festival celebrating the lunar new year, also called Seollal, is hosted by the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul every year. In a bid to give the festival more international appeal, the museum hosts live performances, instrument demonstrations, traditional outfits and food from around the world for visitors to sample.

Cherry Blossom Festivals (April)

Cherry blossoms bloom in March and April. Many towns across the country celebrate the coming of spring by holding flower festivals. The Seokcheon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival, Yeouido Spring Flower Festival and Icheon Baeksa Sansuyu Blossom Festival are all held in mid-April and are within easy reach of Seoul. Together, they attract millions of tourists each year.

Lotus Lantern Festival (May)

According to Buddhist beliefs, the lighting of the lotus-shaped lantern symbolises a desire or commitment to doing good deeds. Held every May on the weekend closest to Buddha's birthday, the Lotus Lantern Festival takes place in downtown Seoul. This festival sees many live performances, food stalls, arts and crafts tents, and a parade of thousands of elaborate lanterns – some small, some enormous, some in motion and some even breathing fire.

Seoul International New Media Festival (July/August)

The Seoul International New Media Festival (NeMaf) is one of Korea's leading film festivals. Since its inception in 2000, it has continued to celebrate independent and experimental films while pushing the boundaries between film and art.

Seoul Fringe Festival (August)

The biggest independent performing arts festival in Korea, the Seoul Fringe Festival sees two weeks of voluntary performances by participating artists. The aim is to offer an alternative to mainstream popular Korean culture by challenging traditional boundaries and creating a platform for discussion and exploration.

Seoul Street Arts Festival (October)

The Seoul Street Arts Festival is the biggest street festival in the city, attracting around a million visitors every year. The festival is a favourite with locals and tourists alike and sees a variety of live performances, concerts and other activities take place over the course of four to five days.

Seoul International Fireworks Festival (October)

This multimedia fireworks display is held every year in October on the banks of the Han River. Fireworks are set to spectacular displays of music and lasers, with displays orchestrated by Korean fireworks experts and international professionals, all set against the backdrop of the Seoul skyline. Attendance is free and the festivities are a stone's throw away from the subway.