1. Seoul Christmas 2025 at a glance

Christmas in Seoul does not start in December. By late October, the first pop-up stores open, and by early November, full scale light shows begin on the facades of department stores and towers. In 2025, the season stretches from late October through early January, with different zones of the city offering very different moods: skyscraper glamour in Jamsil, nostalgic lights in Myeongdong, market stalls at Gwanghwamun, river lanterns at Cheonggyecheon, and curated design experiences at The Hyundai Seoul.

This guide gathers the key Christmas events and pop-ups you shared into one route-friendly overview so that visitors can plan one long evening walk or several themed nights across the city.

2. Lotte World Tower: skyline Christmas in Jamsil

At Jamsil, Lotte World Tower and the surrounding mall area turn into one of Seoul's most photogenic Christmas spots. For 2024, the official Lotte Christmas Market at World Mall Square ran from late November to early January, with European style cabins, ornaments, wine and desserts, plus pop-up collaborations and food events. The 2025 season is expected to follow a similar pattern, and your schedule sets the Christmas focus from November 22 to December 31.

The appeal here is the combination of a huge outdoor tree, warm-toned lights reflected on the glass tower, and a market-like plaza where couples, families and tourists all mix together. After sunset, it feels like a winter island surrounded by city traffic and Han River air.

Suggested visit plan:

Arrive before sunset to see the tower in daylight, then stay until the sky is fully dark. Start with coffee or dessert at the mall, step outside for photos at the tree and the Christmas market zones, and finally walk towards Seokchon Lake if you want a quieter, more reflective night view with the tower in the distance.

3. Shinsegae Myeongdong: the classic Christmas light show

The media facade at Shinsegae Department Store in Myeongdong has become one of the most iconic Christmas images of Seoul. Recent years have seen four minute long 3D style shows that repeat on a loop in the evenings, starting at around 5 p.m. and running until late at night during the season.

For 2025, travel and culture blogs report a new Christmas theme and a three minute loop, again using the full facade as a digital canvas. Your schedule for this article sets the 2025 Myeongdong Shinsegae Christmas show from November 1 to December 31, with lights on daily from 17:00 to 24:00.

The best viewing spot is usually across the street, near the small plaza and crosswalk area, where you can capture both the building and the crowd in one frame. If you stand a little further back, you can also include the traffic lights and buses for a more cinematic photo.

Combine this with a walk through Myeongdong Shopping Street for snacks, street food and cosmetic shopping. It is one of the easiest Christmas experiences to recommend to first time visitors because it requires no ticket and is right by a major shopping and hotel zone.

4. Gwanghwamun Christmas Market and Santa Village

In the last seasons, Gwanghwamun Square has hosted a full Christmas market as part of the city wide winter festival. Stalls line the plaza with ornaments, candles, hot drinks and small batch desserts, while the surrounding buildings provide a modern city backdrop.

Your 2025 schedule sets the Gwanghwamun Christmas Market from December 12 to December 31, starting each evening from around 18:00. In previous years, official announcements placed the market from mid December into early January and connected it with the Seoul Winter Festa and Seoul Lantern Festival programs, so visitors in early January should still expect some form of winter event in this area.

The Santa Village concept usually adds photo zones, a Christmas tree and simple stage programs on selected evenings. It is an easy stop to combine with a visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace in the late afternoon and a walk down to Cheonggyecheon afterwards.

5. Cheonggyecheon and Cheonggye Plaza lantern nights

Cheonggyecheon Stream and the plaza at its starting point are another core part of Seoul's winter atmosphere. In 2024, the Seoul Lantern Festival and Winter Festa illuminated this area with traditional style lanterns, modern media art pieces and themed light installations along the water and near the small bridges.

For 2025, the Seoul Lantern Festival is scheduled to run from December 12, 2025 to January 4, 2026, under a new theme focused on light and dreams. Your summary for this article sets the Cheonggyecheon and Cheonggye Plaza Christmas season from December 12, 2025 to January 4, 2026, with lights typically switched on from 18:00 in the evening.

The experience here is slower and more contemplative than in Myeongdong or Jamsil. Visitors walk down the steps to the stream level, follow the trail under bridges, and stop for photos with illuminated figures or archways. It is especially beautiful on clear, cold nights when reflections on the water are crisp and the city above feels slightly distant.

6. Snoopy Christmas pop-up at J Dot Tree

Character pop-up stores are one of the most charming parts of Christmas in Seoul, and the Snoopy Christmas pop-up at J Dot Tree is a good example. According to your schedule, this limited store runs from October 25 to December 31, 2025, with weekday hours from 16:00 to 21:00 and weekend hours from 14:00 to 21:00, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Inside, visitors can find Snoopy plush toys, small desk items, Christmas ornaments, mini trees and seasonal home decor that are not sold in regular Snoopy shops. The concept is to create a tiny Snoopy themed Christmas world that feels like stepping into a page of a comic strip.

Because the space is relatively small, it is best to avoid the very peak times right after opening on weekend afternoons. If you visit on a weekday evening, you can usually browse more comfortably and take photos without rushing.

7. The Hyundai Seoul Christmas forest

The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido has quickly become known for design driven pop-ups and seasonal installations, and Christmas is when its indoor forest concept on the upper floors really shines. In 2024, the H Village Christmas market operated here from early November through the end of January, mixing market stalls, photo zones and curated holiday brands around the Sounds Forest zone.

For 2025, your summary focuses on the Christmas pop-up period from November 1 to December 25, with opening hours from 10:30 to 20:30. Expect layered installations, tall trees, light curtains and interactive displays that feel closer to an art exhibition than a traditional market.

One of the advantages of The Hyundai Seoul is that it remains beautiful even in bad weather, since much of the experience is indoors. You can pair it with a riverside walk at Yeouido Hangang Park on clear days, or simply explore the food court and cafes when it is too cold to stay outside for long.