Seoul City to Open Winter Attraction 'Christmas Market' on the 23rd

Market Operation at DDP Alimter from 23 to 31
Exhibition and Sale of Products Made by Handicraft Artists and Small Business Owners... Food Trucks Not Operated to Prevent Infection

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The winter attraction ‘Seoul Christmas Market’ will be operated at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) from the 23rd to the 31st under strict quarantine management, Seoul City announced on the 22nd. To prevent infection risks, food trucks will not be operated, and the market will focus on attractions such as the sale of handmade crafts by artists and exhibitions of their works.

The Seoul Christmas Market will be held daily from 2 PM to 8 PM at DDP Alimteo Alim 2 Hall from the 23rd to the 31st. The concept of this market is ‘Christmas Airport - A Journey to Santa’s Land,’ featuring lighting and props that create a Christmas and year-end atmosphere, as well as various products such as accessories and knitted items made directly by merchants, which will be exhibited and sold.

In particular, to ensure a safe event, the number of vendors per session is limited to 40 teams, strictly complying with the government’s ‘Mandatory Quarantine Guidelines for Gatherings, Meetings, and Events.’ The maximum number of visitors at any given time is limited to 387 according to the ‘DDP Exhibition Facility Visitor Quarantine and Operation Guidelines.’ Furthermore, in principle, only those who have completed vaccination or possess a negative test certificate are allowed entry.

Additionally, food trucks will not be operated, and eating and drinking by visitors are completely prohibited. Visitors will be strictly managed from entry to exit through QR code electronic entry log authentication, safe call entry management, and temperature checks to ensure a safe shopping experience.

The Seoul Christmas Market is one of Seoul’s representative cultural tourism contents, held since 2016 in connection with the Seoul Night Bamdokkaebi Night Market to propose new sales channels for small business owners and young entrepreneurs and to provide special attractions and entertainment for citizens and tourists. It was not held last year due to COVID-19.

Im Geun-rae, Seoul City’s Small Business Policy Officer, said, “The Seoul Christmas Market, which is reopening with difficulty, will provide year-end romance to citizens tired of COVID-19 and help increase sales for small business owners facing difficulties. We will operate it as a Christmas market where small business owners and citizens can coexist under thorough quarantine.”