Top Nighttime Light Shows to Experience in Seoul

Late-night media art shows are the newest wide-spread event here in Seoul. It all started with the Banpo Rainbow Bridge and has now spread to most corners of Seoul. So, whether you’re looking to take in the sights or just rest your feet with a view, here are the most popular light shows to see in Seoul.

Contents hide

1 Banpo Rainbow Bridge

2 Cheonggye Soul Ocean

3 DDP Seoul Light

4 Sejong Arts Center Media Facade

4.1 Discover more from Seoul Searching

Banpo Rainbow Bridge

The Banpo Rainbow Bridge is one of Seoul’s most popular and Instagram-worthy spots. It’s also the longest bridge fountain in the world. This double-decker bridge stretches over the Han River and turns into a dazzling light-and-water spectacle at night. From April to October, the bridge’s sides come to life with 380 water nozzles and nearly 10,000 LED lights, usually synced to music.

rainbow lit water spraying from a bridge over a river at night

Showtimes differ from season to season, but generally it’s live every half hour from 7:30 PM to 9 PM except for winter (November to March) when the show isn’t available. If you’re looking for a romantic date spot or just a chill place to soak up Seoul’s stunning night cityscape, this light show is both iconic and effortlessly beautiful.

Cheonggye Soul Ocean

The Cheonggyecheon Stream is one of the best places in Seoul to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. And while it definitely has it’d charm during the day, it’s most beautiful at night when 40 meters of the stream under Gwanggyo Bridge is transformed into a multimedia light show. This show features famous paintings come to life, shimmering galaxies brought down from the skies and vibrant ocean life swimming down the stream.

projected videos of glowing fish swimming along a river at night

nightscape of people walking along a river while the city lights are reflected in the water

Cheonggye Soul Ocean runs until December 31st, 2025. And while it might be too cold to dunk your feet in the water during winter, it’s still worth the visit. There multiple shows starting from 8 PM and running until just short of 10 PM every night. Check out our blog post for more details.

DDP Seoul Light

The DDP hosts their Seoul Light multimedia light show exhibition a few times a year and the summer session is certainly not to be missed. They have a projection show that plays on the outside of the DDP building as well as multiple other exhibits in the courtyard for visitors to explore. Imagine shimmering beams tracing ancient stones, interactive light-pattern art in misty courtyards, and glowing droplets on the lawn that gently pulse different colors.

woman posing under the old Seoul Wall gate during a light show

large sculpture in front of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza

You can visit the DDP at any time, but the DDP Seoul Light exhibits come to life from 8 PM to 10 PM seasonally with Seoul Light DDP autumn set to run from August 28th to September 7th, 2025. Check out our blog post to see our photos from the summer session.

Sejong Arts Center Media Facade

The Sejong Arts Center in central Seoul isn’t just about theater and performances, it occasionally transforms into a giant digital canvas with its media facade. Basically, the building’s front can light up and beam out images, animations, and messages turning it into a glowing urban piece of art. This is one of the lesser known light shows and it plays every night right in Gwanghwamun Square.

a large haechi statue in front of an illuminated building

Whether marking a music icon, a public celebration, or just adding visual flair to the nights, this facade show turns a stroll past the center into a mini-experience. The show starts at 7 PM and runs until 11 PM at night which makes it the latest running light show in Seoul. The current show will run until September 19th, 2025.