2026 Namsan Summer Festival

Walk, make, and even sing in one day — Namsan's transformation on June 27

Seoul's summer festivals usually head straight to the Han River. But for one day on Saturday, June 27, 2026, Namsan will be transformed into a giant summer playground. Events run from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. around Baekbeom Square, Palgak Square, and the south/north circular roads. The program is a bit unique, with three main parts: in the morning, 'Fun&Walk,' where you walk while completing missions; in the afternoon, 'Summer Garden,' where you enjoy traditional crafts and gardens; and in the evening, the outdoor live performance 'Summer Night.' I call this a course of "walk -> make -> finish with songs." It is organized as a schedule where you can stroll through Namsan in the cool of the day, enjoy traditional experiences in the afternoon, and end with music at night.

To begin with, the key point of this festival is the reservation battle. From June 12, 1,000 walkers, 1,000 performance seats, and 120 garden docent spots were opened on Naver Reservation on a first-come, first-served basis. Walking costs 5,000 won (prepaid), while the rest is free, but the number of people is limited, so it fills up quickly. On the other hand, the hands-on programs at Palgak Square and the Korean Forest Garden can be enjoyed free of charge on-site without a reservation, so even if you fail to book, you can still enjoy plenty through the 'Summer Garden' route alone.

6 km through an ice tunnel — following Fun&Walk

At 9:00 a.m., the start is Baekbeom Square. The meeting point address is 100-115 Hoehyeon-dong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, and you can just walk up from Hoehyeon Station on Line 4. Sneakers are a must. It is a course that involves walking about 6 km from Baekbeom Square to Palgak Square, and the point is that this is not a race to break records. It is about experiencing the scenery of Namsan with all five senses rather than competing on time, so it's fine to go slowly with family or friends.

There is even a warm-up before walking. You start after loosening up with upbeat music and cheerleader exercises before departure, and once the actual walk begins, missions await at each section. There are a water-fog section that sprays cool mist, an ice zone filled with large blocks of ice, busking, and a dance section where you pass through as if dancing to the music. Seoul in late June is already muggy, but I hear that the moment when your back chills as you pass through the ice zone is the highlight of the event. Participants move in five groups, and the mission sections are operated mainly along the north circular road for safety, then continue along the south circular road to Palgak Square.

There is plenty to take home when you finish. Participants receive a T-shirt, a completion medal, and a completion certificate, and those who finish among Wrist Doctor 9988 members earn 1,000 points. On top of that, there are prizes such as tickets to the Seoul Tower observatory and Summer Night performance tickets for completion winners, so the 5,000 won fee feels well worth it.

Afternoons are for your hands — Summer Garden and the newly opened Korean Forest Garden

After finishing the walk and cooling off, it is 'Summer Garden' time from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This is the section you can enjoy without a reservation, so I especially recommend it to foreign travelers. At Palgak Square, you can make an evil-spirit-cat key ring, make a traditional bookmark, make a traditional mother-of-pearl fan, and use the photo booth. A mother-of-pearl fan or bookmark is a souvenir you make yourself with a distinctly Korean feel, and these are hands-on experiences that are easy to follow even if language is a barrier. All experiences at Palgak Square and the Korean Forest Garden, except for the docent program, can be joined free of charge by any on-site visitor without advance reservation.

The newest thing at this festival is the Korean Forest Garden. The Korean Forest Garden, which newly opens in June, is being unveiled for the first time through this festival. It is located at Jidangwon in the Itaewon-dong area of Yongsan-gu, and there you can take part in making a traditional butterfly fan, a tattoo sticker experience, and a garden docent program. The docent is a little special: a forest interpreter shares the hidden charms of Namsan for about 30 minutes, with 60 spots for Korean and 60 spots for English separately recruited in advance. The separate English session is a welcome feature for foreign visitors. However, although the experience programs are the same, the operating locations differ (Korean Forest Garden and Palgakjeong), so it is best to check where to go before visiting.

At sunset, Baekbeom Square becomes the stage — Summer Night

The highlight of this festival is, of course, the night. From 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Baekbeom Square turns into an outdoor concert venue for 'Summer Night,' a live performance featuring singers Roy Kim and John Park, among others. Music begins as the sunset settles in, and unlike a typical concert hall, the biggest charm is that the park, forest paths, and night view of downtown Seoul remain the backdrop. For a free concert, the lineup is strong enough to explain the fierce reservation competition.

They also made efforts to deal with the heat. The venue is equipped with cooling fog and cooling zones so that visitors can enjoy the show more comfortably. Still, there are a few practical notes you should know in advance. Pre-reservation checks are done at the ticket booth inside the venue, and a separate waiting line is operated for reserved guests. The general information desk operates from 4:00 p.m. until the end of the performance, but there is no separate storage facility for belongings. In other words, it is best to bring as little as possible. And the entry start time may change depending on operations, so I recommend checking the official website notice once before your visit.

Since it is a night event, plan your way home in advance. When the performance ends at 9:00 p.m., everyone leaves at once, and the safest route from Baekbeom Square is usually down toward Hoehyeon Station on Line 4. Just move with enough time before the last train. Payment for the walking participation fee and pre-reservations is handled online, and since most on-site experiences are free, there is little need to carry cash.

So, who is it for?

It suits travelers who want to enjoy both sweaty activities and gentle music in one day, as well as families, couples, and friends who want to make Korean-style crafts by hand. The English docent session and English-language guidance are reassuring for foreign visitors too. Even with only the free experiences, half a day can easily be filled at the top of Namsan, so if you missed the reservation, try going up Namsan on June 27. It will be a day where you can experience green forest and Seoul's night view at the same time in the middle of the city.