1.97 Million Visitors in 14 Days: Seoul Light Gwanghwamun Continues Its Success with Countdown Event

'2025 Seoul Light Gwanghwamun' Surpasses 1.97 Million Visitors in Just 14 Days, Continues Its Popular Run
Sixteen Artists Including Renowned Media Artist Doug Aitken Participate, Drawing Attention with Creative Exhibitions

Since the opening lighting ceremony on Friday, December 12, more than 390,000 visitors attended the '2025 Seoul Light Gwanghwamun' event by Sunday, December 14, the first weekend. As of Thursday, December 25, the 14th day of the event, the cumulative number of visitors surpassed 1.97 million, continuing its strong popularity. This figure far exceeds the 750,000 visitors during last year's event period, demonstrating the high level of public interest and participation from the outset.

'2025 Seoul Light Gwanghwamun' is drawing attention as a must-visit winter attraction, not only for its main program, the Gwanghwamun media fa?ade show, but also for its K-media art content, such as Korean traditional dancheong structures and Irwolobongdo, which have gained global recognition through K-Pop Demon Hunters. These works are spreading widely via online platforms like YouTube and Instagram, fueling their sensational popularity.

The main content, the Gwanghwamun media fa?ade show, features renowned global media artist Doug Aitken, as well as TZUSOO, Aplan Company, and The First Gate, who illuminate Gwanghwamun with light.

The event reinterprets the structural beauty of traditional dancheong from Irwolobongdo through the 'Unsu Daetong-ro' light sculpture, and includes the piece, where the light changes on traditional Korean windows, as well as the lighting art piece , which combines vibrant laser and light shows. In particular, the wish wall behind the Irwolobongdo is attracting significant attention as an interactive feature where citizens can make wishes for the year-end.

Through the Sejong Pavilion media art program, the LED media screen at Sejong Pavilion is exhibiting works by six invited artists from Korea and abroad, as well as five artists selected through an international open call.

The New Year's countdown on Wednesday, December 31, is expected to be the highlight of this event. The Times Square-style digital New Year's countdown will be recreated in Gwanghwamun. A total of nine organizations, including Jongno-gu, the Gwanghwamun Square Public-Private Joint Council, The Dong-A Ilbo (LOOKS), KT, Digital Chosun Ilbo, and the Korea Creative Content Agency, will simultaneously broadcast the largest countdown show in Korea across digital signage installed in the free outdoor advertising zone throughout Gwanghwamun, linking the final night of 2025 and the first moments of 2026.

The New Year's countdown event will run from 10:50 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. Before and after the main event, the atmosphere will be further enhanced by the Gwanghwamun Fashion Road, which highlights Korean tradition, and a variety of performances by artists such as Yoon Minsoo and Balming Tiger.

Meanwhile, the city expects large crowds at the New Year's countdown site and will deploy 50 safety personnel at major artwork routes, crosswalks, and other crowded areas. In addition, the city will work closely with nearby police stations, fire departments, hospitals, and other relevant agencies to ensure safety and prevent any accidents.

Choi Inkyu, Director of Design Policy, stated, "The 2025 Seoul Light Gwanghwamun event is proceeding successfully with enthusiastic support from citizens and visitors. This special moment marking the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026 will provide new hope and positive energy to the public."