2013 is just around the corner. Here are some ideas on what to do this New Year's and the rest of winter.
Parties and Concerts
Get ready to party the night away with various new year countdown events and concerts
Sunrise Festivals
Countdowns at midnight are standard in any country, but the traditional Korean way to celebrate the new year is to bask in the glow of the first sunrise.
Winter Festivals
Snow and ice festivals around the nation. Ice-fishing is a common theme.
Other stuff to do
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Parties and Concerts
Get ready to party the night away with various new year countdown events and concerts
| Date | Event | Where | Details |
| 31-Dec | Glen Check Live on New Year’s Eve | Olympic Park, Seoul Olympic Park Stn. (line 5, ex. 3) | Celebrate New Year with South Korean indie band Glen Check's indie-dance fusion countdown | W44,000 – W55,000 |
| 31-Dec | Countdown Seoul | Times Square, Seoul Yeongdeungpo Stn. (line 1, ex. 3) | Global live bands and electro DJs on three huge outdoor stages W66,000 – W99,000 |
| 31-Dec | W NYE PARTY | Walker Hill, Seoul | WooBar’s extravagant W New Year’s Eve party, including special guest performances from DJ Gigirocco and DJ Belzebass W55,000 – W66,000. |
| 31-Dec | NYE Countdown Party | Hyatt Regency, Jeju | Buffet from 6 pm – 10 pm. Adults W62,000++, children W37,000, drink packages W25,000 |
| 29-Dec to 31-Dec | Countdown Fantasy 2012 – 2013 | Mapo Arts Center, Seoul Daeheung Stn. (line 6, ex. 2) | This will be the biggest indie New Year’s concert in the country. W44,000 – W132,000. www.mintpaper.com 02-3274-8600 |
| 31-Dec | New Year’s Eve Concert | Seoul Arts Center Nambu Bus Terminal Stn. (line 3, ex. 5) | Gangnam Symphony Orchestra, a huge countdown, fireworks and a floating of hope balloons | 7:30 pm. W30,000 – W50,000. |
| 31-Dec | New Year’s Eve Concert | Sejong Grand Theater at Sejong Center Gwanghwamun Stn. (line 5, ex. 8) | Orchestra, choir and more W30,000 – W100,000 |
| 31-Dec | NYE Countdown Concert Party | The Ritz-Carlton Seou | Featuring popular baritone singer Kim Dong-kyu 9 pm to 10:50 pm. W190,000 – W220,000 |
| 31-Dec | Deli Spice End of Year Concert: “We are here, Busan” | Busan Cinema Center Centum City Station (Busan line 2, exit 6) | Korean modern rock band Deli Spice comes to Busan with their hottest songs from the 90’s as well as their newly-released album | 8pm, W66.000. dureraum.org 02-563-0595 |
| 31-Dec | Year-end Concert "Hi! 2013" | Daegu Opera House, Daegu | 11:00pm tickets at 30,000 won; 20,000 won; 10,000 won |
| 31-Dec | Pansori -Song of Chunhyang | National Theater of Korea Jung-gu, Seoul | The Story of Chunhyang") is one of the best known love stories and folk tales of Korea| 20:00 | W20,000 |
| 31-Dec | Goodbye 2012-Hello 2013 | Suseong Artpia, Yongji Hall Suseong-Gu, Daegu | 11:00pm | W50,000 / W30,000 / W20,000 |
| 30-Dec | Pianist Ji-Yong Recital | Daejeon Culture and Arts Center Government Complex Station, Daejeon Subway Line 1, Exit 3 | 5pm | R: 60,000won, S: 50,000won, A: 40,000won |
| 30-Dec | Soprano Sumi Jo Concert | Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 7:00pm | RVIP-W170,000 / VIP-W130,000 / R-W100,000 / S-W80,000 / A-W50,000 http://www.sejongpac.or.kr |
| 30-Dec | Ballet Gala Performance | Suseong Artpia, Yongji Hall Suseong-Gu, Daegu | 5:00pm | 50,000 won; 30,000 won; 20,000 won |
| 28-Dec to 30-Dec | Patti Kim Concert | Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center, Aram Concert Hall Gyeonggi-do, Goyang-si | Friday 8pm / Saturday 7pm / Sunday 4pm VIP: 121,000won / R: 110,000won / S: 99,000won / A: 77,000won / B: 55,000won |
| 28-Dec | Lim Hyung-joo Year-end Concert | Daegu Opera House, Buk-Gu, Daegu | 8:00 |VIP-W121,000 / R-W110,000 / S-W99,000 / A-W88,000 / B-W77,000 / C-W55,000 |
| 27-Dec to 30-Dec | Ah Q - Contemporary Dance | National Theater of Korea Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul | Thu-Fri 8:00pm; Sat-Sun 3:00pm | W15,000 |
Sunrise Festivals
Countdowns at midnight are standard in any country, but the traditional Korean way to celebrate the new year is to bask in the glow of the first sunrise.
| Category | Date | Event | Where | Details |
| Festivals | 31-Dec to 1-Jan | Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) Festival | Sunrise Peak, Jeju | Featuring jazz concerts, plays, a mandarin orange-eating contest and more |
| Festivals | 31-Dec to 1-Jan | Ulsan Ganjeolgot Sunrise Festival | Ganjeolgot Lighthouse Ulju-gun, Ulsan-si | Ganjeolgot is known as the seaside location where one can witness the first sunrise in Korea. Directions: http://bit.ly/W15yVF |
| Festivals | 31-Dec to 1-Jan | Maryangpo Sunset & Sunrise Festival | Maryangpo Port, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do | A great location and lots of celebratory events such as a local specialty market and seaside bonfires. |
| Festivals | 31-Dec to 1-Jan | Homigot Sunrise Festival | Homigot Sunrise Plaza Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do | A variety of performances and fireworks Directions: http://bit.ly/YKieH1 |
| Festivals | 31-Dec to 1-Jan | Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festival | Hourglass Park District Gangneung, Gangwon-do | Get off of the train in Jeongdongjin and walk only a few meters to the beautiful beach and its large hourglass. |
| Festivals | 31-Dec to 1-Jan | Gyeongpo Sunrise Festival | Gyeongpo Beach Gangneung, Gangwon-do | Fireworks and an array of programs and cultural events. |
| Festivals | 31-Dec to 1-Jan | Yeosu Hyangiram Sunrise Festival | Impo Village (Hyangiram) area Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do | Gukak (Korean traditional music), sunrise singing contest, wish lighting, dance festival, family film festival, and a lot more |
| Festivals | 31-Dec to 1-Jan | Ttangkkeut SunsetㆍSunrise Festival | Ttangkkeut Village Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do | Celebratory concert, followed by beacon tower lighting, traditional dance performance, lantern flying, and fireworks |
Winter Festivals
Snow and ice festivals around the nation. Ice-fishing is a common theme.
| Date | Event | Where | Details |
| through 31-Dec | Luminarie Jeju Festival 2012 | Jeju Stadium Park at World Cup Stadium | Jeju is covered in luminaries during nighttime |
| 29-Dec to 27-Jan | Pocheon Dongjangkun Festival | National Tourist Complex Baegun Valley, Pocheon City | Ice sculptures, various family winter activities such as trout ice fishing, sledding and kite flying |
| 22-Dec to 3-Feb | Pyeongchang Trout Festival | Odaecheon Stream Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do | Ice fishing, winter folk games, sledding, kite flying, and more! Directions: http://bit.ly/YdyHOU |
| 5-Jan to 27-Jan | Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mountain Trout) Ice Festival | Hwacheoncheon Stream and five villages of Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do | Cut a hole through the ice or catch fish barehanded |
| 25-Jan to 3-Feb | Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival | Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do | Performances, exquisite snow sculptures, snowman festival, snow sledding, etc. |
| 19-Jan to 27-Jan | Inje Icefish Festival | Injedaegyo Bridge Inje-gun, Gangwon-do | Fishing and cooking icefish, bowling via innertube, playing ice soccer, sledding, and race-walking on ice. |
| 04-Jan to 27-Jan | Jaraseom Singsing Winter Festival | Gapyeongcheon Stream Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do | Ice fishing for trout, snow sledding, a 50-people sledge ride on ice, ice sledding, ice skating, and bumper cars |
| 8-Mar to 10-Mar | Jeju Field-Burning Festival | Saebyeol Oreum area Bongseong-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si | This tradition of field-burning is reenacted by setting an entire side of the mountain (“oreum”) on fire. |
| 28-Dec to 6-Jan | Naeseorak Riverside Festival | Apgang River Inje-gun, Gangwon-do | Ice fishing, sledding, skating, a snow sculpture exhibition, music concerts, dance performances, and a talent competition |
| 21-Dec to 1-Feb | Lantern Festival & Ice Sledding | Children's Grand Park, Seoul | Lantern Festival: December 21, 2012 – January 6, 2013 (17:30 – 21:30), streets from the main gate to the music fountain Ice Sledding Field: December 29, 2012 – February 1, 2013 (10:00 – 17:00), Environment Pond (환경연못) next to the main gate |
| 22-Dec to 24-Feb | Ganghwa Bingeo Festival | Hwangcheong Reservoir Fishing Grounds Ganghwa-gun, Incheon-si | Smelt ice-fishing, bare-hand smelt fishing, ice biking, sledding, ice sliding, and more. |
| 14-Dec to 27-Jan | The Boseong Green Tea Plantation Light Festival | Botjaedaewon & Dahyanggak Observatory Boseong-bun, Jeollanam-do Province | The green tea plantation transforms into a gigantic village of light! |
| 4-Jan to 27-Feb | Jaraseom Singsing Winter Festival | Jaraseom & Gapyeongcheon Stream area Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do | Ice fishing, snow sledding, mini golf on ice, bobsleighing, and ice hockey |
| 29-Dec to 27-Jan | Dongjangkun Festival | Baegun Valley Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do | Ice sculptures, sledding, trout ice fishing, wood-chopping, log-sawing, bonfire-making, and rabbit herding. |
| 1-Dec to 6-Jan | Busan Christmas Tree Festival | Gwangbok-dong Cultural & Fashion Streets , Jung-gu, Busan | Concerts, events, a main tree, and each section will be decorated with different Christmas trees, ornaments, and lights. |
Other stuff to do
| Date | Event | Where | Details |
| 15-Dec to 17-Feb | Sledding Hill | Ttukseom Hangang Park, Seoul | Sledding and various winter activities http://bit.ly/U8D9Ny |
| 7-Dec to 3-Mar | Five Color Starlight Garden Exhibition | The Garden of Morning Calm Gapyeong-gu, Gyeonggi-do | A magnificent scene of the garden aglow with millions of lights. |
| 31-Dec | Bell-ringing at Bosingak | Bonsingak, Jongno, Seoul | Bell-ringing at midnight with fireworks. |
| though 13-Jan | Hilton Christmas Train | Millennium Seoul Hilton Hotel | A stunning display of vintage trains and wagons set amidst a “Dickensian” winter landscape |
| Dec to Jan | Outdoor ice skating rinks in Seoul | Seoul | For an updated roundup of outdoor skating rinks in Seoul click here |
________________________________________________
Facebook: www.facebook.com/koreatourism
Twitter: www.twitter.com/koreantravel
Youtube: www.youtube.com/visitkorea
Official site: www.visitkorea.or.kr
