Famous 'Seodaemun Hongje Waterfall'... Decorated with Large Tents and Transparent Igloos

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Seongheon) will operate a winter-specialized space at the Hongjecheon ‘Cafe Waterfall’ from this month until March next year. The ‘Cafe Waterfall,’ established in April this year opposite the Seodaemun Hongje Waterfall, is the first achievement and a successful case of Seoul’s waterfront emotional city project. It has become a popular spot for so-called ‘waterfall-mong,’ where visitors can relax and heal while gazing at the waterfall with a cup of tea, attracting more than 50,000 visitors every month.

Recently, this space has been featured on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, with related content surpassing ten million views in total. This phenomenon has led to numerous foreign visitors, making it a global hot place.

The district operates four specialized spaces so that visitors can enjoy the area more diversely without feeling cold during winter. To this end, two large tents and eleven transparent igloos were installed on the wooden deck of the outdoor space and the second-floor terrace of the cafe, and a Christmas tree photo zone was created inside and outside the cafe. Additionally, about ten Christmas-themed artworks by artist Geum Chaemin are exhibited inside the cafe. These spaces are available to anyone without a reservation.

The district expects that creating such spaces will greatly enhance the year-end atmosphere, add vitality to the winter scenery, and lead to a virtuous cycle of increased visitors through social media.

Lee Seongheon, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, said, “Cafe Waterfall has become a global attraction visited not only by residents but also by people worldwide,” and added, “We hope that many people will feel greater satisfaction and revisit through the operation of the winter-specialized spaces.”