Gwanghwamun Square
Source: english.visitseoul.net, checked 13 Oct 2026.
The wide public square on Sejong-daero in front of Gyeongbokgung, with statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong.
Insider tip
Open all day and free, and busy with rallies and events on weekends. Gyeongbokgung station exit 6 and Gwanghwamun station exits 2 and 9 all lead to it.
What the guides say about Gwanghwamun Square
The Seoul Winter Festa opened on 12 December 2025 with a ceremony from 19:00 to 20:00 at Gwanghwamun Square, billed as seven festivals of lights.
The permanent galleries at National Museum of Korea are free, and so are War Memorial of Korea, Gwanghwamun Square and Gyeonghuigung Palace.
What's on at Gwanghwamun Square
Upcoming events at Gwanghwamun Square and within a ten-minute walk, from the weekly Seoul events calendar.
Seoul Light Gwanghwamun 2026
Time 17:30 to 22:00 Station Gwanghwamun (Line 5), exit 8
A light display at Gwanghwamun Square, part of the Seoul Winter Festival. The city festival portal prints 11 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027, 17:30 to 22:00.
travel oriented, CC BY-SA 2.0 Enemy (based on Ibsen's An Enemy of the People)
Station Gwanghwamun (Line 5)
Listed on the Sejong Center home page for October 26 to November 14, 2026 at Sejong M Theater.
La Bohème
Station Gwanghwamun (Line 5)
Listed on the Sejong Center home page for November 5 to 8, 2026 at Sejong Grand Theater.
CHANGMO : MONOLITH
Station Gwanghwamun (Line 5)
Listed on the Sejong Center home page for November 13 to 15, 2026 at Sejong Grand Theater.
Triple Bill: All for Hans van Manen
Station Gwanghwamun (Line 5)
Listed on the Sejong Center home page for November 19 to 22, 2026 at Sejong M Theater.
Smaller local events nearby
Seoul City Tour Bus downtown, palaces and Namsan course Activities
Tuesday to Sunday, every 25 minutes from 9:20. Next: Tue 3 Nov · Gwanghwamun Square, Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun
A hop-on hop-off route from Gwanghwamun. Departs from the Gwanghwamun ticket booth. Closed on Mondays.
Adult from USD 22 · First bus 9:20, last bus 16:50 · Map · Source: Seoul City Tour Bus
Seoul City Tour Bus Han River and Namsan night tour Activities
Tuesday to Sunday, 19:00. Next: Tue 3 Nov · Gwanghwamun Square, Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun
Departs from the Gwanghwamun ticket booth. Closed on Mondays.
Adult from USD 20 · 19:00, 90 minutes · Map · Source: Seoul City Tour Bus
Nearby
Around Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun
Palace gates, museums and the Seochon lanes
This is the formal centre of Seoul. Gyeongbokgung sits at the top of Sejong-daero, with Gwanghwamun Square in front and a cluster of free museums around it. Seochon, the grid of small streets to the west, has Tongin Market and a few cafes.
Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun has 13 places on the Roam Seoul map: 5 museums, 3 palaces and temples, 2 restaurants, 1 landmark, 1 market and 1 cafe. Read the Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Gwanghwamun Square?
- 175 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
- How do I get to Gwanghwamun Square?
- The nearest station is Gwanghwamun (Line 5), exit 2. Gwanghwamun Square is in Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun, Seoul.
- How much does Gwanghwamun Square cost?
- Nothing. Gwanghwamun Square is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Gwanghwamun Square?
- Plan for 30 minutes.
- When is the best time to visit Gwanghwamun Square?
- Evening.
Stay near Gwanghwamun Square
Browse live availability and compare prices around Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun.
See hotels near Gwanghwamun Square on Booking.comPrices are for the night of Saturday 7 November. You can change the dates on Booking.com. If you book, Roam Seoul earns a small commission from Stay22 at no extra cost to you.