Published & Edited by Seoul Tourism Organization
This newsletter, issued by Seoul Tourism Organization, is intended for Seoul Partner Travel Agencies and related organizations around the world.
Issued on the second Wednesday of every month, the newsletter introduces some of Seoul's best hidden charms and newest attractions.
We look forward to your continued interest and support as we bring you a variety of content in the future!
2026/10/14 |
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T O P I C ❕
👀 Seoul in October: A Feast for All Five Senses 🍁 |
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As cool breezes roll in this October, why not enjoy Seoul in a slightly more special way? 😊
From the taste and smell of K-BBQ sizzling on the grill to autumn scenery of rippling silver grass, new designs at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the joyful sound of traditional Korean music, and the soft touch of traditional hanbok you try on yourself — October in Seoul has it all! 🪭
In this issue, we've put together trips that go beyond simply sightseeing, so you can experience autumn in Seoul with all five senses! 🍁
Discover October in Seoul by eating, seeing, wearing, hearing, and experiencing!
Awaken your senses one by one, starting with whichever appeals to you most! ✨
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Contents📑
① [Taste & Smell] 2026 Seoul BBQ Festival
② [See] The 25th Seoul Silver Grass Festival
③ [See] Seoul Design Week 2026 & DDP Design Fair
④ [Hear] Korean Traditional Performing Arts Creation Studio MARU
⑤ [Touch] Hanbok Culture Week & Strolling Seoul in Traditional Hanbok
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#KBBQ #HangangCamping #NanjiCampground #SelfBBQ #AutumnPicnic
🔥 Experience Campnic (Camping + Picnic) by the Hangang River: Sizzle! The moment Seoul gets delicious! 🍖
You shouldn't miss K-BBQ when traveling to Korea! Step out of restaurants, grill your own meat in the autumn breeze of the Hangang River, and experience the K-BBQ culture of sharing food together! 🥩
The 2026 Seoul BBQ Festival, held October 24–25 at Nanji Campground, is a food festival where you can enjoy BBQ, camping, and picnicking all at once, right in the city. 🏕️
The most eye-catching program is the “Self BBQ Zone,” where you buy your choice of meat and leafy greens for wraps on site and grill them yourself! No camping gear needed — charcoal, grills, and cooking utensils are all provided, so even travelers can enjoy Korean-style BBQ hassle-free. 🔥
You can choose between the Charcoal BBQ Zone and the Grill BBQ Zone, and each session runs 2.5 hours, with 3 sessions a day.
From Session 1 (12:00–14:30) at lunchtime to Session 3 (18:00–20:30), where you can wrap up the day watching the sunset, choose the time that fits your travel plans. ⏰
If grilling feels like too much, how about looking around the “BBQ Village,” where you can find Seoul's famous meat restaurants all in one place? There's also “BBQ Masters,” where you can watch professional chefs show off their dazzling cooking skills! 👨🍳
There's also a “Seoul-style Kids Café” for families with children, “Seoro Market” featuring agricultural products and local specialties from across Korea, a “Healing Zone” to catch your breath, and a variety of side events. Even if you're not grilling, or if you're traveling with kids, you can spend the whole day here, making it easy for families, too. 👨👩👧
From the smell and taste of grilled meat to the autumn breeze along the Hangang River 👃👅 — if you want to truly “taste” autumn in Seoul, don't miss it! 😋
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📣 Must-Know Tips!
- 📅 Oct. 24 (Sat)–Oct. 25 (Sun), 2026- 📍 Nanji Campground (28 Hangangnanji-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul)- 💵 Self BBQ Zone: 20,000 won (Charcoal BBQ Zone) / 10,000 won (Grill BBQ Zone) per table; ingredients sold separately- ⏰ Self BBQ Zone: 3 sessions a day starting at 12:00, 15:00, and 18:00 (2.5 hours each) / BBQ Village: open all day (12:00–19:30) / BBQ Masters: 2 sessions a day (Session 1: 12:30–14:00, Session 2: 17:30–19:00) - 💻 Self BBQ Zone: advance booking required, with some walk-in seats also planned / BBQ Village and side events: no booking needed- 🚌 Loop shuttle buses run during the event between Digital Media City Station, Mangwon Hangang Park, and the festival venue- 🌾 Haneul Park, home to the Seoul Silver Grass Festival in October, is nearby — pair the two for an autumn day out in the Sangam–Nanji area- 🔗 https://www.seoulbbqfesta.com/bbs7/index.php- 💗 seoulbbqfestival_official |
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The 25th Seoul Silver Grass Festival |
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#HaneulPark #SilverGrassSpot #AutumnSunset #SeoulPhotoZone #SeoulSilverGrassFestival
🌾 A week when Seoul is colored in silver 🍃
There's a color of Seoul that you can only see in autumn! It's the color of the silver grass at Haneul Park, which creates silver waves every time the wind blows. 🤍
Around the Haneul Park area, from October 17 to 23, the 25th Seoul Silver Grass Festival will be held! 🌾
As you stroll slowly through the silver grass fields that fill Haneul Park, you'll find scenery completely different from the dense skyline Seoul is known for. At sunset in particular, you can capture the silver grass, the red glow of the sky, and the Hangang River in the distance all in one frame, making it one of Seoul's signature autumn photo spots. 📸
There's a special story behind Haneul Park's scenery. Today it's an ecological park covered in silver grass and grassland, but this area was once the Nanjido landfill, where Seoul's garbage was piled up. After an ecological restoration process, it was reborn as World Cup Park. ♻️
“Five Senses Gardens” will also be created throughout the venue. The “Garden of Comfort” features fields of red kochia, and the “Garden of Hope” showcases a horse sculpture made of silver grass. Together with the garden preserved from the Seoul International Garden Show at Haneul Park, visitors can see scenery where silver grass and red kochia blend together. 🌺
A “Lighting Show” will run every evening from 19:00 to 20:30, coloring the silver grass fields with music and light. If you watch the sunset at the wide-open Haneul Park and stay on to see the show, you'll complete a trip where day and night look totally different. ✨
There are hands-on experiences, too! Interactive programs such as making Haneul silver grass bouquets and seed bombs are on offer, along with the “Resource Circulation Market (Re:born Market),” new this year, where you can find upcycled products and experiences. With busking performances and photo zones added, a much more colorful autumn festival awaits, beyond just viewing the silver grass! 🎶
Good to know: the route to the summit includes uphill and stair sections, so it takes quite a while on foot. If you're traveling with a group, seniors, or young children, the Maengkkongi electric sightseeing car departing from the Nanjicheon Park parking lot is much more comfortable! 🚙
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📣 Must-Know Tips!
- 📅 The 25th Seoul Silver Grass Festival: Oct. 17 (Sat)–Oct. 23 (Fri), 2026 / 10:00–21:00- 📍 Haneul Park area, World Cup Park (95 Haneulgongwon-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul) - 🎉 Opening ceremony: Oct. 17 (Sat), 18:00–19:00 (including the Lighting Show, an orchestra performance, and more)- ✨ Lighting Show: Daily, 19:00–20:30 (shows start at 19:00, 19:30, and 20:00) - 🚇 Get off at World Cup Stadium Station or Mapo-gu Office Station (Line 6), then walk about 40 minutes / The Maengkkongi electric car is available from the Nanjicheon Park parking lot- 🌾 The silver grass fields can be enjoyed even after the festival ends - 🌇 Around sunset, visitors can enjoy the silver grass, the Hangang River, and Seoul's sunset together - 🚶 Comfortable shoes are recommended since walking is needed to get to the Haneul Park summit - 🔥 Visitors can also enjoy the Seoul BBQ Festival, as the park is close to Nanji Campground and Nanji Hangang Park - 🔗 https://festival.seoul.go.kr/festival/main/festivalView.do?festacode=683 |
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Seoul Design Week 2026 & DDP Design Fair |
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#SeoulDesignWeek #DDPDesignFair #KDesign #DongdaemunTrip #SeoulLifestyle
👀 Want a taste of what Seoulites love these days? 👠
If you've enjoyed enough of Seoul's autumn scenery, now it's time to discover the designs that feel most quintessentially Seoul. 🎨
At Seoul Design Week 2026, taking place around DDP from October 14 to 25, visitors can explore Seoul's diverse design content in one place, from exhibitions to markets, forums, and hands-on experiences! 🏙️
This year's theme is “The Design Recipe.” Just as different ingredients are combined to complete a single dish, various designs and ideas will come together to show the tastes and lifestyles of Seoul today. ✨
Pay special attention to the DDP Design Fair, taking place at the DDP Art Hall from October 14 to 18!
Under the concept of “Market of Taste,” about 80 design and lifestyle brands will participate. By browsing products in various fields, including furniture, home, and fashion, you can discover emerging Korean designers and brands gaining attention in Seoul, all in one place. 🛍️
Design exhibitions continue throughout DDP, and an outdoor design market opens on weekends! It's a chance to go beyond simply viewing artworks and catch a glimpse of what Seoulites buy, how they decorate their spaces, and which designs they're paying attention to. 😁
After visiting DDP, go shopping in Dongdaemun or explore the nearby Gwanghui-dong area to experience Seoul's design and lifestyle in a single day! 😊
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📣 Must-Know Tips!
- 📅 Seoul Design Week: Oct. 14 (Wed)–Oct. 25 (Sun), 2026 / DDP and across Seoul - 🛍️ DDP Design Fair: Oct. 14 (Wed)–Oct. 18 (Sun), 2026 / Entire DDP Art Hall- 🎟️ DDP Design Fair admission: 15,000 won on site (separate early-bird and other advance-sale prices apply) - 🎤 Seoul Design Week Conference: Oct. 15 (Thu) and Oct. 18 (Sun), 2026 / 3F, Design Hall, DDP Design Lab * The conference is a paid, pre-booking event, and all participants will receive a DDP Design Fair admission ticket - 🚇 Get off at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Lines 2, 4, and 5) - 🔗 https://www.seoul-designweek.or.kr/?langSet=en- 💗 seouldesignweek.official |
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Korean Traditional Performing Arts Creation Studio MARU |
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#TraditionalPerformance #Gugak #OnggiConcert #TraditionalCultureExperience #SeoulPerformanceTravel
🎶 Traditional Korean sounds from 100 years ago, in the heart of Dongdaemun 👂
Isn't it a little surprising that there's a traditional Korean music (Gugak) performance hall on the 9th floor of the New Building (Building N) of the Dongdaemun Shopping Complex? 🤔
But more than 100 years ago, this site was home to “Gwangmudae Theater,” where master performers and singers of the time performed Pansori and dance. In 2020, Korean Traditional Performing Arts Creation Studio MARU opened on the old site and gave that name back to its in-house theater, continuing the history of Korean traditional performance. 🎭
If you’re visiting Seoul, don’t miss the “Onggi Concert,” a premium traditional Korean music performance designed for international visitors! Inspired by the way noble families of the Joseon Dynasty welcomed guests into their homes, this intimate salon-style performance offers a special experience for just 30 guests. 🏺
What makes the Onggi Concert truly special is its “human-scale” approach, bringing performers and audiences closer together! Without a large stage or microphones, you can feel the performers’ expressions, breathing, and the natural resonance of traditional instruments up close. Onggi (traditional Korean earthenware vessels) are also incorporated into the performance to create a deeper, richer sound. Rather than simply watching the show, you’ll feel as though you’re part of the performance, sharing an immersive experience with the artists. 🎶
The experience doesn't end with the show. Enjoy English docent commentary and traditional Korean refreshments, and after the performance, try playing the gayageum and sori-buk (pansori drum) and wearing hanbok with a gat (traditional hat) and jokduri (ceremonial headpiece)! From October to December, a traditional dance and performance season unfolds with Gungjung Jeongjae (royal court dances), folk dances, and buk-chum (drum dance) and janggu-chum (hourglass drum dance), letting you experience Korean traditional arts more fully. 🪭
Best of all, it's near Dongdaemun Station and within walking distance of DDP! Pair it with Seoul Design Week for a day that takes you from “the newest Seoul” to “the sounds of old Seoul.” 🚶
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📣 Must-Know Tips!
- 📍 9F, Building N (New Building), Dongdaemun Shopping Complex, 272, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul - 🎭 A space specializing in traditional performing arts, located on the old site of “Gwangmudae Theater,” a performance hall from more than 100 years ago - 🏺 “Onggi Concert”: a premium Gugak performance for foreign visitors, now running* 🎟️ Premium performance limited to 30 seats / Ticket price: 150,000 won for all seats (currently 20% off) / Booking via Seoul Pass, GetYourGuide, or Viatorhttps://www.seoultravelpass.com/en/products/1819-seoul-hidden-vip-salon-an-immersive-%22onggi-concert%22-featuring-k-music-performances-and-hanbok-experiences- 🗣️ English docent, traditional refreshments, traditional instrument, and hanbok-wearing programs are also available - 🎶 Traditional dance and performance season runs from October to December- 🚇 About a 5-minute walk from Exit 9, Dongdaemun Station (Lines 1 and 4) - 📞 070-8893-4773- 🔗 Korean Traditional Performing Arts Creation Studio MARU website
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Hanbok Culture Week & Strolling Seoul in Traditional Hanbok |
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#HanbokCultureWeek #HanbokDay #TraditionalHanbok #SeoulTraditionalCulture #HanbokWearing
👚 Don't just look — wear the beauty of Korea yourself!
Tie a graceful otgoreum (jacket ribbon), slip into a full skirt and jeogori (traditional jacket), and stroll along the stone walls of a royal palace. 😍
One of the best ways to experience Korean traditional culture in Seoul is to try on traditional hanbok yourself. ✨
Notably, there will be “Hanbok Culture Week 2026” from October 19 to 25. Centered on October 21, Hanbok Day, the event is designed to let people enjoy hanbok more closely in their daily lives. This year, around 410 venues across Korea, including the Open Plaza of the National Museum of Korea, will host various programs such as fashion shows, exhibitions, performances, and hands-on experiences. 🗓️
Wearing traditional hanbok that preserves the unique form and beauty of hanbok, including the jeogori, skirt, and pants, stroll slowly around Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, stone walls, and palace halls of Gyeongbokgung Palace, and capture in photos how the colors and lines of hanbok blend with traditional Korean architecture. 📷
Did you know that a “Hanbok Pass” is offered during Hanbok Culture Week? 💡
Year-round, if you wear hanbok in line with the “Free Admission Guidelines for Hanbok Wearers” of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, both Koreans and foreigners can enter Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Deoksugung (the four major palaces) and Jongmyo Shrine for free. During Hanbok Culture Week, you can also get free admission or discounts at museums and theme parks across Korea, just by wearing hanbok! 🎠
Slip into hanbok and immerse yourself in Korean tradition.
Try it in Seoul in October! 😊
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📣 Must-Know Tips!
- 📅 Hanbok Culture Week 2026: Oct. 19 (Mon)–Oct. 25 (Sun), 2026 - 📍 Around 410 venues across the country, including the Open Plaza of the National Museum of Korea - 🎊 Celebratory event: Oct. 21 (Wed), 2026, 17:00–18:30 / Open Plaza, National Museum of Korea (137, Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul) - 🎟️ Hanbok Pass: Oct. 19 (Mon)–Oct. 31 (Sat), 2026 — Hanbok-wearing visitors will have free entry or discounts at cultural and tourism facilities across the country * Hanbok Pass participating venues and benefits are subject to change, so please check before you visit - 🏛️ Visitors who wear hanbok in line with the “Free Admission Guidelines for Hanbok Wearers” of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center can enter the four major palaces and Jongmyo Shrine for free- ✔️ Free entry standard: wearing both a jeogori (upper garment) with an overlapping collar and a lower garment (skirt or pants)- 🔗 Hanbok Culture Week 2026 official website https://www.kcdf.or.kr/hanbokcultureweek/main- 🔗 Free Admission Guidelines for Hanbok Wearers (Royal Palaces and Tombs Center) https://royal.khs.go.kr/ENG/contents/E701000000.do- 💗 hackr.official |
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🍁 This autumn, remember Seoul with your “five senses”!
From the smell and taste of grilling meat to silver grass swaying in the wind, Seoul's newest designs, hanbok you can feel at your fingertips, and the sound of Gugak ringing out nearby. ♥️
When you add the experience of grilling, walking, wearing, and listening firsthand, the taste, charm, and story of the city of Seoul become even more vivid.
In particular, this issue connects the different charms of Seoul, from K-food to nature, design, and traditional culture and performances, into one “five senses” trip. With cool weather, October is a great season to travel to Seoul.
So don't miss this season! 🍁
This October, go beyond capturing Seoul with your camera, and explore an autumn in Seoul that you'll remember for a long time with your five senses! ✨
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