Gwanghwamun Market

Gwanghwamun Market will be held around Gwanghwamun Square and Sejongno Park from December 11, 2026, to January 10, 2027, and admission is free. The 2026 information does not indicate whether visitors need to make advance reservations or purchase tickets. The 2025 edition introduced Haechi and Soul Friends, along with a “Put Snowflakes in the Wishing Fountain” event, while the fifth edition in 2026 will be operated under the theme “The Santa Village Where Time Has Stopped.” This year, Christmas-season handicrafts, manufactured goods, food stalls, photo zones, and hands-on programs are expected to be arranged together.

The fifth Gwanghwamun Market edition will divide the booths among 96 teams

The total recruitment target for small business owners in 2026 is 96 teams, with 32 teams operating in each season. Each season’s recruitment is divided into 25 handicraft teams and 7 seasonal manufactured-goods teams, so when deciding what to buy this year, you can first distinguish between handicrafts and decorative products.

Approximately 3.57 million visitors were reported for Gwanghwamun Market in 2025. The 2026 event will take the form of a village inspired by European Christmas markets and add the theme “The Santa Village Where Time Has Stopped.” It will therefore use different thematic wording from the themed spaces and Santa Village street displays shown in photos from the previous year.

There is not enough return-trip information to visit only Gwanghwamun Square and set off

The 2026 event will take place around Gwanghwamun Square and Sejongno Park, but the nearest station and exit, walking time, and public transportation routes have not yet been announced. Whether temporary shuttles will operate, as well as parking lot locations and fees, has also not been confirmed, so it is currently difficult to plan your journey by entering only the event venue’s name into a map.

Daily operating hours and the admission closing time for 2026 have not been announced either, so they cannot be calculated in relation to the last train or bus. Therefore, based only on the information currently available, it is safer to plan as if a same-day trip is not feasible and check the operating hours and return transportation before departure. Inquiries about recruitment and operations can be made at 010-2116-9172, and inquiry hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Start by checking the 25 handicraft teams and free partner events in 2026

The 2026 venue is expected to feature sales booths from 25 Christmas-season handicraft teams and 7 seasonal manufactured-goods teams, as well as food market booths. Partner booths involving related organizations and private-sector brand companies are expected to offer public-service promotions and free events, creating places worth visiting even if you do not make a purchase.

Christmas-themed photo zones and special hands-on activities and ongoing programs for visitors are also planned, but the types of activities and exact operating hours have not yet been announced. It has not been confirmed whether English assistance, interpretation, or multilingual audio guides will be available. Prices of the goods for sale and whether card and cash payments will be accepted have also not been disclosed, so it is better to make plans for on-site purchases after the booth list and detailed notices are released.

With 3.57 million visitors in 2025, check the detailed routes for 2026 in advance

Since approximately 3.57 million people visited in 2025, the event’s scale itself may not suit travelers who prefer to stay quietly for a long time. Haechi and Soul Friends, the Santa Village street, and the Wishing Fountain event shown in 2025 photos were scenes from the previous edition, so you should not plan your itinerary assuming they will operate in the same locations and manner in 2026.

Information about operations, cancellations, and refunds in case of rain in 2026, wheelchair and stroller accessibility, and restrooms, luggage storage, and rest areas has not yet been confirmed. Travelers who require English assistance or have difficulty returning late at night may also find it difficult to finalize plans based only on the currently available information. Before visiting, check the official website, gwanghwamunmarket.com, for notices about operating hours, transportation, and accessibility, then set out.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will the “Put Snowflakes in the Wishing Fountain” event shown in 2025 photos also be held in 2026? — It was held in the 2025 edition, but detailed schedules for each 2026 program have not yet been announced.
• How many teams will have booths in 2026? — The total recruitment target for small business owners is 96 teams, with 32 teams per season, divided into 25 handicraft teams and 7 seasonal manufactured-goods teams.
• Can I see food and items for sale together? — Food market booths and Christmas-season handicraft and manufactured-goods booths are expected to operate in 2026.
• Can I visit at night and still return the same day? — Since the 2026 operating hours, admission closing time, and public transportation and shuttle information have not been announced, it is currently safer to plan as if a same-day trip is not feasible.