If you’re traveling to South Korea in the winter, here are some of My favorite Seoul Christmas Destination in winter Christmas season. These places are already on the main tourist trail, but they become even more special during the Christmas season, when you can take pictures of the stunning Christmas trees and decorations in the various department stores. If Christmas is over in December, don’t despair. Many of the special Christmas displays will still be up until January. Check out the locations and dates below to make sure you have a great trip to Korea.
Shinsegae Department Store Myeongdong Media Facade
Location : 63 Sogong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Open until January 31, 2024
Screening time: 17:30-22:30 Approximately 3 minutes
This is the place that started the Christmas event boom in Korean department stores. The exterior walls of the department store are decorated with LED display boards, and you can enjoy a spectacular show every evening. Starting in the evening, every 5 minutes
Because the LED show is on the exterior walls of the department store, it’s best viewed from across the street, not from inside the store, which is why there are so many people across the street from the department store to appreciate the media facade.
In particular, the best place to see it is “Myeongdong Hoehyeon Underground Shopping Center Exit 1“. You can see the media facade from the front. Since there are a lot of people here, the department store is controlling it for safety. Especially, music is played along with the video, so it is a good location to enjoy the video and music together.
Not only this, there is also a holiday market on the 4th floor of the department store, so you can visit there as well. I visited the department store late in the evening after closing time, so I didn’t get to go in.
Myeongdong Lotte Department Store Christmas Event: My Dearest Wish
Location : 81 Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Event Schedule : 23.11.03 ~ 23.12.31
Lighting Hours : 17:30 ~ 22:30
Lotte Department Store is located not far from Shinsegae Department Store. They also decorated the interior and exterior of the department store for Christmas, with a Christmas exhibition called “My Dearest Wish”.
Outside, there is a large Christmas tree and various photo-worthy sculptures on the windows. Even if you don’t want to take pictures, it’s fun to look around.
There’s also a letterhouse on the ground floor and an upside-down tree on the basement level. I didn’t get a chance to check it out as it was late and the store was closed.
The Hyundai Seoul Department Store Christmas Village
Location : 108 Yeoui-daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Operation Period : Nov.1-Dec.31, 2023
Opening hours
– Mon ~ Thu 10:30 – 20:00
– Fri ~ Sun 10:30 – 20:30
The third Seoul Christmas Destination is The Hyundai Department Store in Yeouido. The Hyundai Department Store is one of the largest department stores in Seoul and is a popular destination for tourists as well as locals.
The Hyundai Department Store also held the same event as last year in the Sound Forest on the 5th floor. The spacious park, which was originally set up like a forest, has been transformed into a large Christmas tree and a beautiful village. There are several photo spots inside, and it is said to be a great place to take pictures.
However, since it is indoors, the number of people entering the park is limited for safety reasons. It is one of the most popular places in Korea right now, so it is not easy to get in. For online waiting, it is through Naver, but it is not easy for foreign tourists who do not have a Korean phone number to make a reservation.
For on-site waiting, you can make a reservation through the QR code at the entrance on the 5th floor from the time of opening. This reservation is also said to fill up quickly. If you really want to get in and explore the town, we recommend trying to get in during the department store’s opening hours on weekdays.
If you can’t make it in, the town from the outside is beautiful and you can take pictures of it from a distance. I also took some photos and watched from afar.
Jamsil Lotte World Mall Christmas Tree & Christmas Market
Location : 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul Lotte World Mall
Period : 23.11.10~24.02.12
Business Hours : 10:00~23:00 (Carousel: 12:00~22:00)
Christmas tree/carousel lighting time : 17:30~23:00)
Next Seoul Christmas Destination is Lotte World Mall in Jamsil, located in Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in Korea.
If you go through the street between Lotte World Mall and Lotte Department Store, you can see a huge Christmas tree at World Park, which is 10 meters high. The Christmas tree looks great with the tall Lotte World Tower in the background.
Next to the Christmas tree is a beautiful carousel. If you spend more than 30,000 won at Lotte World Tower Mall, you can take up to 2 people on the carousel with your receipt. However, you can only use the receipt on the same day.
Christmas Market
– Operation Period : 23.11.24~23.12.25
– Hours : 13:30~22:00
In addition to the Christmas tree and carousel, Lotte World Mall also operates a Christmas market. Inside, you can find a variety of Christmas-related decorations and food items. For the Christmas market, you need to wait to enter, but you can make a reservation through the QR code at the entrance. Although there are a lot of people waiting, it’s recommended to wait for the Christmas market and enjoy the Christmas tree and carousel first.
Starfield Library Golden Tree
Last Seoul Christmas Destination is the Starfield Library at Coex Starfield. It’s located in a shopping mall called Coex Starfield at Samsung Station, and it’s already a famous tourist spot for its incredibly tall bookshelves. It also has a large golden tree.
In the evening, there is also a miter art show in the backdrop of the tall book flowers. It is said that the show may be interrupted on Wednesdays and Fridays due to lectures.
Location : Starfield COEX Mall B1, 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Period: Nov. 17, 2023 – early Feb. 2024 (tentative)
Light Show Time: 18:00~21:00 (every 15 minutes)
