The countdown to the New Year 2025 has begun.
On January 1, 2025, when the new year begins, Seoul’s autonomous districts will hold New Year sunrise events on the best mountains to watch the sunrise with residents, praying for national peace and citizens' happiness.
According to the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, the sunrise time on New Year's Day 2025 is scheduled for 7:47 AM.
Jungnang-gu Welcomes 2025 Sunrise at the Summit of Bonghwasan, the First Place the Sun Rises in Seoul
Jungnang-gu (District Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) will hold a special New Year sunrise event at the summit of Bonghwasan, where the sun rises first in Seoul, at 7 AM on January 1 to welcome the Year of the Blue Snake, Eulsa Year 2025.
The district plans to offer a meaningful time for residents to enjoy the first sunrise of the new year and pray for their health and happiness.
Various side events such as celebratory performances, a beacon fire performance at the beacon tower praying for residents' health and happiness, and experience booths will be prepared before and after the sunrise. The sunrise event will begin at 7 AM with a soprano vocal performance by Son Jeong-yoon and a grand daebuk (traditional Korean drum) performance by musician Kim Ha-ram. At the scheduled sunrise time, small fireworks (sparklers) and the beacon fire performance at the beacon tower will take place, and residents will shout the sunrise countdown together to welcome the hopeful new year sunrise. This will be followed by a three cheers chant and time to appreciate the sunrise.
Additionally, various events such as writing New Year wish cards, checking New Year fortunes, experiencing traditional games like Tuho, and installations of neon electronic billboards and event photo walls will enrich the event venue.
For a safe event, the district has thoroughly prepared by conducting joint inspections with the police and fire station in advance and will deploy safety personnel intensively on the day of the event. Furthermore, safety and medical booths will be operated to respond immediately to emergencies.
Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “I hope the first sunrise of 2025 at the summit of Bonghwasan will add hope and vitality to the lives of our residents,” and added, “We will do our best to ensure a safe and enjoyable sunrise event by thoroughly preparing the remaining arrangements.”
Gwangjin-gu Holds '2025 Achasan Sunrise Festival' at Achasan Eoullim Square
Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) will hold the ‘2025 Achasan Sunrise Festival’ at Achasan Eoullim Square at 6 AM on January 1, the first day of the Eulsa Year 2025.
Achasan, at 295 meters, is not very high and has a gentle slope. It offers a great view and is easy for people of all ages to climb, attracting visitors year-round. The district will hold the sunrise festival at Achasan, where the sun rises first in Seoul, to promote community harmony and pray for New Year wishes.
Upon entering Achasan, ‘Cheongsachorong’ (traditional Korean lanterns) will welcome visitors, lighting a 260-meter path up to the Saturday Yard. Around Eoullim Square, various attractions and activities such as hanging New Year wish cards, a wish drum, and photo zones will be set up. A pre-event performance featuring a pungmul troupe’s street parade will delight citizens’ eyes and ears.
Songpa-gu Holds New Year Celebration at Mangwolbong in Olympic Park
Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced that it will hold the ‘2025 New Year Celebration’ to watch the first sunrise of the new year at Mangwolbong in Olympic Park at 7 AM on January 1.
Mangwolbong (望月峰) in Olympic Park is a peak that bulges out along the Mongchon Fortress walking trail and is a famous sunrise spot visited by about 10,000 people every year. Located within Olympic Park, it offers excellent accessibility from the city and a magnificent view of the new year sunrise rising along the open ridge.
The Eulsa Year ‘New Year Celebration’ will be held from 7 AM to 8:30 AM on January 1 at Mangwolbong in Olympic Park. The event includes a variety of programs such as pungmul performances, musical music, vocal performances, a bell-ringing ceremony of hope, sunrise viewing, writing New Year wish cards, and fortune-telling for the new year.
Seongdong-gu Holds Eungbongsan Sunrise Festival
Seongdong-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jung Won-oh) will hold the ‘2025 Eungbongsan Sunrise Festival’ at the Eungbongsan Octagonal Pavilion on the first day of the Eulsa Year 2025.
The district holds the Eungbongsan Sunrise Festival every year to receive the vigorous energy of the rising new year and to pray for the health and happiness of its residents. Eungbongsan is a representative urban sunrise spot overlooking the Han River, Seoul Forest, and the eastern part of Seoul at a glance.
This year’s ‘Eungbongsan Sunrise Festival’ will start at 7 AM on a special stage at the Octagonal Pavilion, featuring various programs to pray for New Year wishes and announce a hopeful leap forward.
Gangnam-gu Holds Sunrise Event at Samsung Sunrise Park
Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Cho Sung-myung) will hold a hopeful sunrise event at Samsung Sunrise Park (82 Samsung-dong) at 7:30 AM on January 1 to welcome the Eulsa Year New Year.
Samsung Sunrise Park is considered one of the best sunrise spots, offering a panoramic view of the Han River, Cheongdam Bridge, Lotte Tower, Jamsil Sports Complex, and other Seoul landmarks along with the sunrise.
The event, starting with the sound of a buk drum, will have participants shout the sunrise countdown together at the scheduled sunrise time. A sunrise performance featuring a sun-shaped sculpture rising into the sky will express hopes for the new year. Following this, speeches by attending guests, a calligraphy performance, and a popera (pop opera) performance will provide an emotional and inspiring start to the new year.
Mapo-gu Holds Sunrise Festival at Haneul Park
Mapo-gu (District Mayor Park Kang-soo) will hold the ‘2025 Haneul Park Sunrise Festival’ at Haneul Park to welcome the Year of the Blue Snake (Eulsa Year 2025).
The district prepared the festival to greet the first sunrise of 2025 with residents, pledge a hopeful start, and pray for the health and happiness of 370,000 Mapo residents.
The festival will open at 7 AM on January 1 with a grand daebuk (traditional Korean drum) performance that awakens the dawn.
Following this, with the first daebuk beat led by Mayor Park Kang-soo, residents will watch the first sunrise infused with the energy of the Blue Snake and celebrate a vigorous start to 2025.
After welcoming the first sunrise of the new year, a ‘Sunrise Celebration Box’ event commemorating 2025 will be held, providing attendees with a chance to share New Year’s greetings and celebrate 2025 together.
Eunpyeong-gu Holds Bongsan Sunrise Event
The district announced it will hold the ‘2025 Eunpyeong-gu Citizens Bongsan Sunrise Event’ at Bongsan Sunrise Park.
This event is a meaningful gathering where Eunpyeong residents come together to start the new year with hope and determination.
The event will be hosted by announcer Kim Hyun-wook. Performances will include the popera vocal group ‘Vollare’ and the traditional Korean music band ‘Solis’ with a daebuk performance. Additionally, there will be a wish lantern release and a sunrise countdown event. Side events include writing wish cards, photo zone events, and sharing warm tea with visitors who bring tumblers to promote environmental protection.
Yeongdeungpo-gu Prepares Crowd Safety Measures at Seonyugyo, a Popular New Year Sunrise Spot on January 1
Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that, anticipating large crowds at Seonyugyo, a popular New Year sunrise spot, it will implement safety measures such as limiting the number of people per zone to prevent accidents.
The district has established more thorough safety measures than in previous years to ensure visitors can safely enjoy the sunrise. Relevant departments will conduct frequent joint on-site safety inspections with Yeongdeungpo Police Station and Yeongdeungpo Fire Station. This includes identifying locations for installing safety fences and barriers and checking ambulance access routes and evacuation paths in case of emergencies.
On January 1, from 6 AM to 8:30 AM, Seonyugyo will be divided into zones by color?pink, purple, red, and green?with entry limits for each zone. Wristbands of the corresponding colors will be distributed on-site in advance. This system aims to efficiently control the number of entrants, reducing congestion and crowd density.
To ensure smooth and safe movement on slopes and stairs on Seonyugyo, ‘one-way traffic’ will be encouraged, and safety personnel will be deployed to assist visitors.
The district also focused on convenience, setting up three warming shelters to escape the cold, and preparing heaters and warm tea so visitors can comfortably enjoy the sunrise and pray for their New Year wishes.
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