December may have come and gone, but we are still in the heart of winter here in Korea. January is typically the coldest month of the year, so expect subzero temperatures for the majority of the month. We usually only get a few days of snow throughout the country, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying all the activities the country has to offer.

A lot of winter festivals and events from December will be continuing on through January. That means ice skating, sledding, ice fishing but also pop-ups galore. Without further ado, here are our travel tips and things to do in Korea in January.

TEMPERATURE

2025 will have one of the warmest Januaries on record with temperatures in at 11°C (51.8°F) at the highest and -13°C (8.6°F) at the coldest. We’ve had a fair amount of snow this winter and it’s expected to continue so make sure to dress warm. It’s also incredibly dry, so you’ll want to keep you skin and lips constantly moisturized to prevent chapping and peeling.

The weather starts “warming up” in late January, but the temperatures still hover around zero so be sure to bundle up especially if you’re not used to colder climates.

EVENTS

New Years Eve Countdown Events

New years eve this year is going to be the biggest yet with multiple events going on around the country. For a list of events in Seoul, check out our post here.

Seoul Light

When: Until January 21, 2024 (6PM – 10 PM)

Where: Gyeongbokgung main gate (Gwanghwamun Square)

Every night on the hour, visitors to Gwanghwamun Square can watch a projection light show cast on the front of Gyeongbokgung palace. The show plays every hour starting at 6 PM with the last show at 9 PM. We’d recommend seeing it on a weekday, but also make sure to get a good seat across the street from Gwanghwamun Square directly in front of the gates. It also gets quite cold, so make sure to bring a scarf and gloves if you’ll be attending.

Hangang Winter Festival

• When: Until February 16, 2025 (9 AM to 5 PM, closed from 12 PM to 12:40 PM)
• Where: Ttukseom Hangang Park, Jamwon Hangang Park, Yeouido Hangang Park

The Hangang River Park Winter Festival will be hosting three sledding slopes until February of this year. Admission is 6,000 KRW which includes rental and slope fees. There are plenty of fun festival activities from rides, carnival games and smelt fishing. This winter festival is a lot of fun and definitely worth the visit.

For more information on the Tteukseom Winter Hangang Festival, check out our post.

The 16th Annual Lantern Festival

• When: December 13, 2024 – January 12, 2025 (6 PM – 10 PM)
• Where: Cheonggyecheon Stream (Naver Map, Google Maps)

This year, the lantern festival returns to the Cheonggyecheon Stream from last year’s location in Gwanghwamun Square. The stream is the perfect place to walk at night and it’s even better since the lanterns are displayed above the stream itself.

The festival gets especially crowded on weekends, so we recommend stopping by on weekdays when it’ll be much quieter and nicer to enjoy the ambience. For more information including dates, times and locations, check out our Everything You Need to Know about the Lantern Festival post.

Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink

• When: December 20, 2024 – February 9, 2025
• Where: Seoul Plaza (Naver Map, Google Maps)

Seoul city will be operating the annual outdoor ice skating rink in front of city hall as usual. This year, the rink will stay open until February (!!). Don’t forget to stop by the snack bar for a nice hot bowl of soupy tteokbokki after you’re done carving the ice.

If you want to know more about the Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink, check out our post.

Gwanghwamun Square Market

• When: Until January 5, 2025
• Where: Gwanghwamun Square (172 Sejong-daero, 세종대로 172)

Back for its second year, the Gwanghwamun Christmas market is being held in Gwanghwamun Square. There’s almost always a long wait to get in, but the line moves relatively quickly so you shouldn’t have to wait long. If you visit during a weekday night however, there should be little to no wait.

2025 Namsangol Lunar New Year’s Day Festival

• When: January 28 – 30, 2025
• Where: Namsangol Hanok Village (Naver Map, Google Maps)

Every year, tons of locals and tourists flock to Namsangol for their Lunar New Year’s Day Festival which consists of multiple performances as well as exhibitions and programs including ancestral rites and traditional food zones.

Check out the Namsangol Hanok Village page for more detail.s

2025 Unhyeongung Lunar New Year Folk Festival

• When: January 28 – 30, 2025 (11 AM – 4 PM)
• Where: Unhyeongung Palace

Unhyeongung Palace is Seoul’s most underrated palace, but the Lunar New Year Folk Festival is the perfect chance to explore its grounds. This festival focuses on activities, performances and experiences focusing on folk culture.

Check out the event page for more details.