Korea Events: Exhibitions, Pop-ups & Performances | NowHitz · 2

80,000 people on day one

Reports say the 2025 festival prepared 100,000 rolls and still drew 80,000 visitors on the first day alone. Each booth had to cap buyers at four rolls.

So this year Gimcheon City has changed how people queue, and stretched the schedule from two days to three.

Phone instead of a line

The big change is QR ordering: pick your gimbap and pay on your phone, using a system built with KakaoPay. Staffed kiosk booths are there for people less comfortable with digital devices.

The grounds grow too, with the Eco-Friendly Ecological Park joining Jikji Culture Park and Sasimdaesa Park. Expect five information booths (one with interpreters for foreign visitors), luggage storage and a dedicated Kakao Map.

Sixty kinds of gimbap

Gimcheon City says around 60 kinds will be served: gimbap-factory rolls, regional oddities and winners of the Cook-King contest. The gold-prize recipe may even reach CU convenience stores nationwide.

After eating there is gimbap art, a gimbap train and a shop selling goods of the mascot Kkodali.

Getting there

The trip to the venue is the real challenge. About 60 shuttle buses run from three stops: the Gimcheon Sports Town parking lot, Gimcheon-Gumi Station and Gimcheon Station. A Sopung Taxi from the stops costs 5,000-8,000 won.

Kakao T runs direct shuttles from Seoul (Jamsil, Sadang, Seoul Station), Daejeon City Hall Station, Daegu Banwoldang, Gwangju Central Bus Terminal and Busan Seomyeon. Book through the shuttle menu in the app and riders get two Kkodali goods and one gimbap roll.

Before you go

Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., except opening day on the 23rd, which starts at 10 a.m. Questions: 054-420-6714.

Mayor Bae Nak-ho said the city took last year's feedback on board and promised a festival where visitors are the stars.

Grab a tray and tongs

The concept is 'a bakery without bread': the bakery hideout BBanggomie runs, moved into a store.

You pick goods with a tray and tongs, just like choosing bread at a bakery. There is also participatory content such as the 'BBanggomie baking challenge'.

300 items, and what they cost

Dolls, key rings, cushions, magnet key rings and pyjamas add up to about 300 items. Dolls (3 types) are 29,500 won each, bakery key rings (5 types) and Krungji key rings (4 types) 16,500 won each, and giant-bread cushions (3 types) 58,000 won each.

The BBanggomie pyjamas (5 types, 48,500 won each) debut at this pop-up.

A photo with the costume

During the pop-up there is also a photo-time event with the BBanggomie costume character.

Before you go

It is at Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam, B1 Sweet Park, and runs until the 25th. Check on site for times of the baking challenge and photo time.

Totals climb fast once the tray fills up, so starting with the key rings is the gentler route.

Why it stayed shut for 59 years

It goes back to Jan. 21, 1968, when North Korean commandos came down to attack the Blue House. Afterwards civilians were kept off Bugaksan and some 30 military posts and guard facilities went up.

Because the slope sits right behind the presidential compound, this south-west stretch was the last to be released.

Three openings, 6.52 km in total

Bugaksan opened in stages: 2.2 km on the north side in 2020, 3.0 km on the south-east side in 2022, and now the final 1.32 km.

Add them up and the open trails total 6.52 km. The Presidential Security Service's map shows all three phases in yellow, orange and red on one sheet.

What the new section is like

The service built it mostly along the patrol paths soldiers already used, without damaging the landscape. From here you can look down on the Blue House grounds from behind.

The map marks the 1.21 Pine, Baegak Maru and Manse Dongbang along the way.

Open at night, with a safety net

Like the existing trails, the new section has no closing time. Patrols from the information centres and CCTV run alongside.

On the 7th, Jongno fire station, the Korea Forest Service, Jongno-gu Office and Jongno police held a joint wildfire drill on the section.

Who made it happen

The security service has been preparing since last July with the other agencies: new trail building, upgrades and safety measures. The Korea Heritage Service worked on the visitor environment of the scenic site Bugaksan, and Jongno-gu supported trail construction.

"With this phase 3 opening we have been able to return Bugaksan to the people in full," said PSS head Hwang In-kwon.

Before you go

The new section runs on the Cheongun-dong side and has no closing time.

The security service's phase 3 map shows the stages and the information centres.

A folding screen of rock rising from flat farmland

Wolchulsan is an isolated granite massif that shoots up from the Honam plain. The highest peak, Cheonhwangbong, is 809 m, ringed by Gujeongbong, Sajabong and Janggunbong, which earned it the nickname 'Namdo Sogeumgang'.

The designation singled out granite weathering landforms and rare vegetation that changes with altitude.

The mountain in the Samguk Sagi

The Samguk Sagi lists the mountain as 'Wolnaeak', a site for national rites. Those rites continued through Unified Silla, Goryeo and Joseon.

On Gujeongbong, an 8.6 m seated Buddha is carved into the rock, a national treasure. Nine holes in the summit rock come with legends about wells.

Temples at the foot of the mountain

Muwisa in Gangjin holds the national-treasure Geungnakjeon hall and the Mita triad murals. Dogapsa in Yeongam is tied to a founding legend of the monk Doseon, and Cheonhwangsa is where mountain faith meets Buddhism.

Jeong Yak-yong and other poets and travellers left poems and travel notes about the mountain. It is a bookshelf with a summit.

What changes next

The city says it will draw up a comprehensive preservation and management plan with the Korea Heritage Service, Yeongam and Gangjin, and will develop storytelling-driven cultural tourism linking nearby temples and historic sites.

Religious affairs director Kang Ha-chun called it "the foremost mountain of Honam," where dazzling scenery and more than a thousand years of Buddhist history sit in harmony.

How to plan a visit

The best-known temples at the foot of the mountain are Muwisa (Gangjin) and Dogapsa (Yeongam). Linking the two covers both counties the scenic site spans.

Trail closures and opening hours can change with local conditions, so check with the county office before you set out.

What ended, what's left

The paid DDP Design Fair ran Oct. 14-18 in the DDP Art Hall, with general tickets at 15,000 won. Seoul Design Week as a whole runs Oct. 14-25 under the theme 'The Design Recipe'.

The part you can enjoy without spending much starts now.

A lap of Seoul in 150 spots

The Seoul Design Road links 150 design spots across five districts: Dongdaemun, Seongsu, Yeonhui, Seochon and Apgujeong. Design studios, brands, exhibition spaces and lifestyle venues are grouped into walkable district routes.

Design exhibitions around the city are free through Oct. 25.

What's still on at DDP

Exhibitions inside DDP are free, including 'Designer Scale-up', 'Collective Seoul', 'Ist Alien: Unfamiliar Italy' and 'Studio Practice'.

The outdoor Design Market, a stall fair of small designer goods, ran Oct. 16-18 and returns Oct. 23-25.

Before you go

DDP is closest to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Lines 2, 4, 5), Exits 1 and 2. Check market hours and the participating spots on the official site, seoul-designweek.or.kr.

Last year's edition drew about 30,000 paid visitors, so expect the final weekend to be busy.

Where and when

This is the 5th K-Jewelry Jongno Festival, hosted by Jongno-gu. It runs from noon to 9 p.m. on Oct. 24 around Donhwamun-ro 10-gil and Seosunra-gil.

The theme is "the street where jewelry is born, Jongno": the idea is to show how jewelry is designed and made, right on the street.

14 things you can make

From 1 to 8 p.m., 14 hands-on programs run on Donhwamun-ro 10-gil. You pay only for materials. Book ahead through the Seoul public service reservation system or register on site.

The Seoul Jewelry Support Center runs a separate make-your-own-ring session. Craftsmen also give free demonstrations: initial engraving, cleaning, gemstone-reuse advice, metal polishing and embroidered name tags.

Auctions, a runway and free appraisals

A stage at the Seosunra-gil entrance hosts price-breaking auctions at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., followed by a jewelry runway show from 3 p.m.

At Ibis Ambassador Seoul Insadong and the Dorothy showroom, 35 companies show natural stones and rare minerals from 1 to 7 p.m. Bring gems from home for a free appraisal.

Where your wallet opens

Twenty Jongno-based brands and makers set up pop-ups on Seosunra-gil, and nearby shops mark prices down 10-20%.

Spend KRW 30,000 or more at the festival for a prize-draw ticket. There is a treasure-hunt stamp mission, and the wedding-ring event gives one selected couple a 14K couple ring and an on-stage proposal.

Before you go

Popular hands-on sessions can fill up, so booking through the Seoul public service reservation system is the safer route. On-site registration is also available.

Auctions are at 1 and 5 p.m., the runway at 3 p.m., seminars at 2 and 4 p.m. Pick what you want to catch first and plan your route around it.

A reopened space

Seoul Book Bogo reopened as a book-culture space in May 2025. Its former secondhand bookstore operation ended in 2024.

It now houses publisher-curated shelves, a hand-copying space and a café.

The autumn exhibition

The autumn exhibition “세계 엮기 - 문학의 시리즈” (“Weaving Worlds: Literary Series”) runs from September 8 to November 29, with eight publishers taking part.

On display are Munhakdongne’s poetry series, Minumsa’s World Literature collection and Wisdom House’s Wepick books, each containing a single short story.

Hand-copying space and café

The dedicated Pilsajeok space offers ten themes for copying passages by hand and reflecting on them.

Visitors can browse the publishers’ curated shelves, use the copying space or rest at Café Neugeut.

October 30 reading gathering

October’s Moyeobogo is a free gathering for self-directed reading on Friday, October 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. KST. The 30 places are first come, first served, and advance registration closes at 11:55 p.m. KST on October 28.

Walk-ins are not accepted, and check-in starts at 6 p.m. The application button was open as of 10:03 p.m. KST on October 14. Instructions are in Korean only; for booking help, call +82-70-4681-7360.

Author talks full

As of the same time, registration had closed for Gu Byeong-mo’s October 20 book talk, the October 21 talk with poets Shin Yi-in, Lee Gi-ri and Lim Yu-young, and Seong Hae-na’s October 28 book talk. Author events require separate registration from the exhibition.

Hours and location

Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. It is closed Mondays, January 1 and the Seollal and Chuseok holidays.

The address is 1 Ogeum-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, a one-minute walk from Exit 1 of Jamsillaru Station on Line 2. The walking paths around Seokchon Lake’s east and west lakes are nearby.

Even the cake has a face

There are two sweets. One is a petit choco-berry cake: black chocolate sponge layered with strawberry and topped with a Ganadi marshmallow. The other is a soft cheesecake bread.

Every collab product comes with one sticker seal, picked at random from 60 designs. You will not know which until you open it.

The goods lineup

The squishy comes in four designs with Ganadi's expressions, four-leaf clovers and the chocolate strawberry cake, plus a clear case and keyring.

Press the button on the action ballpoint pen and Ganadi pops out of the cake or shakes pom-poms. There is also a plush cushion with a blanket inside, a figure mug with Ganadi eating the cake, and a tumbler with a Ganadi-face cover.

Why 'luck'?

Twosome says it tied the line to 'lucky-maxing', the Gen Z habit of hunting for and collecting luck, and to cheering on students heading into the college entrance exam.

Ganadi found its fans among teens and twenty-somethings through memes and emoticons, and Twosome says it has ranked No. 1 in KakaoTalk emoticons.

Pre-order closes the 19th

You can get it before the official launch. Pre-orders run through KakaoTalk Gift from 10 a.m. on Oct. 12 to Monday, Oct. 19.

Buy a mobile voucher, then register it on the pre-order page of the Twosome Heart app. Pick up at designated stores from Oct. 22 to 28.

Before you go

- Pre-orders close Monday, Oct. 19, two days from now. - Buying the voucher is not enough. Register it in the app to finish the reservation. - After the Oct. 30 launch, availability still varies by store, so check the branch you plan to visit.

KRW 30,000 in receipts, front-row seat

Receipts from Seoul small businesses, from purchases made in October, add up: reach KRW 30,000 and you can sit in the front "Sangsaeng Zone". Several receipts can be combined.

You certify them at the on-site receipt booth on the day, once per person per day.

What is on stage tonight

Oct. 17 is the K-POP Cover Dance Festival World Final, with dance teams from 13 countries competing. The street dance show "Seoul Street Wave" takes over from there.

The night before belonged to a gugak show, "Pungnyu Seoul", and a pop concert, "Soul Seoul".

No receipt, still welcome

Admission is free. The receipt only decides whether you can use the front zone.

Seoul Shinmun hosts, with the support of the Seoul Metropolitan Government. A booth with products picked by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups stands alongside.

Why receipts?

Money spent at neighbourhood shops comes back as a prime seat. Min Su-hong, head of Seoul's Culture Headquarters, called night culture "an important factor that broadens citizens' leisure options and drives tourism and consumption, lifting the city's vitality".

Before you go

It starts at 6 pm on the special stage at Seoul Plaza. To sit in the front zone, bring your October receipts.

Welcome videos from the performing acts are on the event's official YouTube channel.

One night left

The city scheduled three autumn shows. Sept. 12 was 'K-Baseball, Seoul Night,' Oct. 9 was 'Joseon Fantasy,' and the finale is Oct. 31.

The Sept. 8 city notice lists the third theme only as 'to be announced.' You will find out on the night.

What the first two looked like

Round one was made for baseball fans, with LG Twins, Doosan Bears and Kiwoom Heroes taking part. Round two, 'Joseon Fantasy,' sent Hong Gil-dong, Jeon U-chi, Sim Cheong and Chunhyang across the sky, as the title of the city's own video puts it.

The official site describes shows of 1,200 to 2,000 drones alongside cultural performances.

7:30 p.m. start, a 15-minute main act

The evening runs from 7:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. According to the city notice, the drone light show itself runs 8:30 to 8:45 p.m.

Cultural performances come before and after it. Arrive early for the stage acts, or just in time for the main show.

Getting there: Jayang Station, Exit 1

The city recommends Exit 1 of Jayang Station on Line 7; Exits 2 and 3 may be restricted. It also points visitors to the Noyu or Jayang entrances rather than the crowded Ttukseom entrance.

Parking lots 3 and 4 at Ttukseom Hangang Park may hold exits until 9:30 p.m. after the show, and the surrounding roads are no-parking enforcement zones.

Before you go

Admission is free and you simply show up. Rain or strong wind can delay or cancel the show, so check the official website and Instagram before leaving.

Public Wi-Fi in Han River parks is paused from noon to 9:30 p.m. on show days. Questions go to the Seoul Tourism Policy Division at 02-2133-2797.

Oct. 19, 11 a.m., by Gyeonghoeru

The launch is timed to Hanbok Culture Week (Oct. 19-25, 2026) and run with the Korea Heritage Service and the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (KCDF).

Vice Minister Kim Young-soo attends with 24 rental shops near Gyeongbokgung and 17 hanbok influencers.

A 'Hanbok Story' booklet at every shop

Participating rental shops hand out a multilingual booklet, 'Hanbok Story', plus QR guides covering hanbok history, structure and how to wear it.

KCDF trains the rental staff so they know the answers before customers ask. Influencers spread the how-to on social media.

A hanbok quiz by the pavilion

A quiz booth near Gyeonghoeru tests you on garment names, structure and how to wear them. Next to it, an exhibit gathers court hanbok and the hanbok seen in K-dramas.

The booth keeps running after opening day.

The 'Hanbok Pass' reward

Tourists who wear hanbok correctly at participating shops receive 'Hanbok Pass' goods: a norigae ornament. Show it at 27 partner sites for 10-20% off.

The National Museum of Korea's MMUZ shop honours it through Oct. 25; partner stores in Insa-dong and Anguk through Dec. 31.

Before you go

The goods come from participating rental shops only, so ask before you rent.

The ministry's Traditional Culture Division (+82-44-203-2549) and the Hanbok Promotion Center (+82-2-398-1630) take questions. Kim said premium hanbok is gaining share at rental shops and he hopes proper wearing will spread at Gyeongbokgung.

After Seoul Forest, Yangjae

The show that began at Seoul Forest in May has stretched to Maehyeon Citizens' Forest for autumn. The Seoul Forest show carries on too.

The theme is 'Citizens' Garden', built and tended by 367 citizen gardeners rather than just displayed to visitors.

51 gardens: where to start

There are 4 artist, 5 citizen, 5 student, 31 citizen-gardener and 6 corporate or institutional gardens. Seven linear gardens (3,580 sq m) run along the Yeocheon and Yangjaecheon entrances and the Gangnam-daero and Maehyeon-ro sides.

Benches, bean bags and mat zones make it easy to walk and rest. Garden docent tours run daily at 1, 3 and 5 pm.

Flower Festa this weekend

It opens on the 16th with a pre-show and welcome busking. On Saturday the 17th come a flower golden-bell quiz, a magic show and a talk-and-music concert.

Sunday the 18th brings a children's flower drawing contest, a welcome-drink show and another concert, a schedule that suits a family Sunday.

Night-time forest cinema

The Autumn Night Forest Theatre screens from 6 to 8 pm on October 16–17 and 23–24. 'Every-corner Live' performances run at 3 and 5 pm every weekend.

The garden market has 20 companies showing and selling garden and lifestyle goods, and food trucks are on site.

Before you go

Seoul asks visitors to use public transport. The coverage does not state an entry fee or overall opening hours, so check the official site or the 120 Dasan Call Center.

Programmes may change; docent tours can be booked ahead or joined on the spot.