Gwanghwamun Square hosts Bitmeorak Festival on 24 October

Gwanghwamun Square hosts the 2026 Gwanghwamun Bitmeorak Festival from 24 October 2026, bringing lectures, family activities and performances to central Seoul. The programme connects the public square with the newly established Garden of Gratitude and continues through the end of December.

Bitmeorak Festival brings history programmes to Gwanghwamun Square

Seoul Metropolitan Government opens the festival on Saturday, 24 October 2026. The opening weekend on 24 and 25 October includes humanities lectures, author talks, music, magic and fusion gugak performances across the square.

The Garden of Gratitude is one of the main programme areas. It hosts a Nobel quiz competition and family activities, while Freedom Hall provides a setting for a message-of-gratitude activity and a calligraphy booth near the statue of King Sejong. The city has also scheduled a history lecture for children at the Garden of Gratitude stage on 24 October. The opening weekend programme also lists author talks and street performances on both days.

The city describes the festival as a seasonal series rather than a single weekend event. November brings the first Bitmeorak Story Tours, with historical commentary as visitors walk through the square. The planned tours serve children and families, foreign visitors and young military personnel, with evening options and Friday and Saturday sessions. A weekend children’s history mission game is planned for December.

Garden of Gratitude links the festival to Seoul’s civic history

The festival’s programme is tied to the square’s named spaces and monuments rather than being a city event that merely passes nearby. Lectures and activities use the Garden of Gratitude, Freedom Hall and the statue of King Sejong as settings, giving the October programme a direct connection to the site.

Gwanghwamun Square began its current festival tradition after its redesign in 2022. The 2026 edition is the fifth, and the city has expanded its activity areas to include the Garden of Gratitude, which opened in May. This link between the redesigned square and the festival gives visitors a way to encounter Seoul’s public history through talks, performances and participatory activities. The Seoul government event schedule places the wider festival at the square from October through 31 December 2026.

The location also sits within a wider historic district. The official square information identifies the address as 172 Sejong-daero in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Its position between Gyeongbokgung Palace and the central government district makes the named monuments and landscaped areas part of the visitor setting, while the festival supplies specific activities for the dates ahead.

November story tours extend the festival beyond opening weekend

For travellers arriving after the first weekend, the November Story Tours are the clearest continuation of the programme. They are planned as guided walks with historical explanations, including sessions designed for foreign visitors. The city had not yet published the detailed registration arrangements when the festival announcement was issued, so the opening weekend and the recurring November format are confirmed, while individual tour times remain to be announced.

The December mission game changes the format again by asking children to explore the statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong and the Garden of Gratitude while completing history quizzes. These later activities show how the festival uses the square as an outdoor learning route as well as a performance venue. Further square event information is published by the site’s official operator.

Visiting Gwanghwamun Square: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The 2026 Gwanghwamun Bitmeorak Festival begins at Gwanghwamun Square on 24 October 2026, with the opening programme continuing on 25 October.
• The opening weekend combines lectures, author talks, family activities, calligraphy, music, magic and fusion gugak performances, while November adds Friday and Saturday Story Tours.
• The square is at 172 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul. The official directions identify Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3 and Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5 as access points.
• South Korea’s official language is Korean and its national currency is the won. Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

Gwanghwamun Square therefore offers a scheduled cultural programme alongside its established civic spaces during the final week of October 2026.

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Frequently asked questions about Gwanghwamun Square

When does the Bitmeorak Festival take place at Gwanghwamun Square?

The 2026 festival opens on 24 October 2026. Its seasonal programme is scheduled to continue through 31 December 2026.

What is Gwanghwamun Square?

It is a central public square in Seoul at 172 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu. The site includes the Garden of Gratitude, Freedom Hall and the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

Where is Gwanghwamun Square and how do you get there?

The square is in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The official directions point to Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3 and Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5.