Festivals, Food, and Traditional Crafts in Seoul!

Kimchi, Crafts, and Cool Events

Festivals, Food, and Traditional Crafts in Seoul!

The weather is getting colder, but there's still plenty of fun to be had in Seoul! From festivals to hands-on activities, experience what the city has to offer in November.

Seoul Lantern Festival

The biggest festival of November is the Seoul Lantern Festival. This year, the festival will run from Nov. 4th through Nov. 20th, 2016 along Cheonggyecheon Stream. Lanterns will be installed just above water-level for a colorful display. Not only will there be beautiful lanterns on display, the festival will be a great chance to people watch. This year marks the 8th Seoul Lantern Festival. The festival theme changes annually and this year’s theme is “the Historic Hangang River, Illuminated through Light.” The festival will feature lanterns representing different regions of Korea as well as nations around the world, as well as lanterns of popular cartoon characters, sure to be a hit with children and the young at heart.

As 2016 comes to an end, the timing is perfect to make a wish for one’s future and the new year ahead. The festival will offer a chance for visitors to participate in wish activities such as hanging wish lanterns, writing a wish down, or floating a wish lantern. Take photos of the many lanterns that will be up during the festival, and cap off your evening with a stop at the food marketplace and food trucks that will be in operation during the festival.

More Info

Dates & Time : Nov. 4th, 2016 (Fri) - Nov. 20th (Sun) 17:00~23:00

Event Location : Cheonggye Plaza - Supyogyo Bridge (1.2km)

Directions : Gwanghwamun Station (subway line 5) exit 5, City Hall Station (subway lines 1, 2) exit 4

Website : Seoul Lantern Festival

Seoul Kimchi Festival

The Seoul Kimchi Festival may possibly be the only time you can see hundreds of people gathered to make kimchi together in Seoul. This year, the Seoul Kimchi Festival will take place at Seoul Plaza from Nov. 4th through Nov. 6th, 2016. Kimchi has many beneficial properties and eating kimchi can help alleviate stress, make you skin look more youthful, boost your immune system, and aid in digestive process. Kimchi is a staple of Korean cuisine, but its popularity has spread throughout the world and kimchi has become an international food. The Seoul Kimchi Festival is popular in Korea, but it has also been gaining international attention.

The first ever Seoul Kimchi Festival took place in 2014 and this year marks the third festival. The festival doesn’t just feature kimjang (the process of making kimchi), there will be a range of additional activities and fun experiences to enjoy. The festival is sure to have a party atmosphere thanks to the live performances and music set to take place. Don’t forget to check out the festival’s kimchi street and marketplace which will have fresh kimchi-making ingredients and regional variations of kimchi on sale to the public. The Seoul Kimchi Festival is a chance to make unique kimchi-memories and a great way to fully experience the joys of kimchi.

More Info

Dates & Time : Nov. 4th (Fri) - Nov. 6th (Sun)

Event Location : Seoul Plaza and immediate vicinity

Directions : City Hall Station (subway lines 1, 2), exit 5

Website (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) : Seoul Kimchi Festival

Kimchi Making Experience

Kimchi culture thrives in Seoul and it's possible to participate in making kimchi even when the Seoul Kimchi Festival isn’t running. Museum Kimchikan is located in Jongno, it is a veritable gold mine of information about kimchi and kimjang. Docents offer guided tours around the museum and its exhibition halls. Learn more about kimchi and kimjang's designation as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage asset. The exhibition halls offer various information; one hall features kimchi and other pickled foods from around the world. Another exhibition hall has various videos about kimchi. It's even possible to take part in kimchi-making classes at the museum.

The Korea House is another venue that offers kimchi-making classes. The Korea House is a multipurpose cultural complex that is most famous for its incredible traditional Korean restaurant. However, it’s also possible to hold a traditional Korean wedding here as well as see performances of traditional dance and music (salmunori). There is also a hanbok-wearing experience. The Korea House is a wonderful way to learn about traditional Korean culture in Seoul.

More Info

Museum Kimchikan

Address & Directions : 4th-6th Fls. 35-4 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Jonggak Station, subway line 1, exit 5 or Anguk Station, subway line 3, exit 6)

Hours of Operation : Tues - Sun 10:00~18:00

Website : Museum Kimchikan

Korea House

Address & Directions : 10 Toegye-ro 36-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (Chungmuro Station, subway lines 3, 4, exit 3)

Telephone : +82-2-2266-9101~3

Website : Korea House

Traditional Craft Making Activities

Follow up your kimchi-making with more hands-on experiences in Seoul, like traditional craft making. Bukchon Hanok Village is known for its charming alleys and architecture, but the area is also home to many traditional workshops and crafting establishments. Visit one of Bukchon's craft workshops and make a unique souvenir to remember your trip to Seoul by.

Try your hand at making hanji crafts. Hanji is most commonly found in paper-form, but it can also be used to make clothes. Hanji is a long-lasting, versatile material that can be used in many mediums such as clothing, art, and even furniture. At the Hanji Workshop, visitors can make crafts that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are fun to make. There are several activities available, from pencil cases to a DIY lamp.

At the Dakpaper Art doll Lab, you can make an adorable doll out of hanji. When hanji paper is used to make these dolls, the hanji paper is normally referred to as dak paper. "Dak" is the Korean word for mulberry, and hanji paper is made from the bark of mulberry trees, hence the name dak paper. Dolls are made by applying one layer of paper at a time. The papers used here are all subtly and naturally colored. Having even just one of these adorable dolls in a room can help brighten the room's atmosphere.

At the Donglim Knot Workshop, it’s possible to learn traditional Korean knotting methods. With just a length or cord, your hands, and some knowledge, it’s possible to fashion all sorts of decorations. Learning to knot intricate designs can be very difficult, so the activities at the workshop start off with options to learn simple knots for beautiful items like bracelets or cellphone charms. There is a saying about ties that bind people, in a similar way, perhaps learning to knot is a way of taking part in a craft that ties the present with the past.

More Info

Hanji Workshop

Address & Directions : 15-7 Gyedong 4-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Anguk Station, subway line 3, exit 3)

Hours of Operation : Tues - Sun, March to Oct. 10:00~18:00 / Nov. to Feb. 10:00~17:00

Dakpaper Art doll Lab

Address & Directions : 45-13 Changdeokgung 4-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Anguk Station, subway line 3, exit 3)

Hours of Operation : Tues - Sun 10:00~17:00

Website (Korean) : http://blog.naver.com/dakpaper001

Donglim Knot Workshop

Address & Directions : 10 Bukchon-ro 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Anguk Station, subway line 3, exit 2)

Hours of Operation : Tues - Sun 10:00~18:00

Website : Donglim Knot Workshop