Travel
Fun in Korea: 2025 Gwanghwamun Family Festival kicks off May 1
Haps Magazine Korea
April 28, 2025
(Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Government. Courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea.)
Gwanghwamun Square, one of Seoul’s most iconic landmarks and a popular family gathering space, will turn into a hub of excitement this May holiday.
The 2025 Gwanghwamun Family Festival – Fun, Fun Gwanghwamun Square will take place from May 1 to May 6 at Yukjo Madang within the square.
Now in its third year since Gwanghwamun Square’s reopening in 2022, the festival has established itself as a major family event, drawing more than 25,000 visitors last year as it expanded its focus from children to families.
This year’s event coincides with the Seoul Spring Festa, offering an even richer experience.
Seoul Spring Festa is a major cultural and tourism celebration under the theme “The Center of K-Culture, An Amazing Festival in Seoul,” highlighting K-pop, K-beauty, K-fashion, and K-food.
To match the expanded six-day schedule, the city has teamed up with major content companies like Kyobo Book Centre, Daewon Media, and Avana-Brickbrick to offer distinctive programs tailored for families.
At the Kyobo Book Centre near Gwanghwamun, visitors can participate in activities like writing and mailing postcards and leaving memory notes, creating lasting keepsakes of the day.
The event also features a “Find the Culprit” scavenger hunt based on the popular children’s character Superman, where kids solve clues hidden around booths. Additional mini-games, like spinning random box roulettes and catching airballs, will be available throughout the festival.
Daewon Media will operate a booth showcasing Marvel and Disney products. Children can interact with characters like Spider-Man and Iron Man, with live meet-and-greet sessions happening on the hour.
Avana-Brickbrick will offer a DIY Lego hat workshop, where participants can assemble small blocks to create custom accessories, blending creativity with hands-on fun.
A special highlight will take place on May 4 at 1 p.m., when author Park Mi-yeon hosts a book talk and signing for her bestselling children’s novel “Time Cat,” a popular eco-themed science fiction story. Reservations for the event will open on April 25 at 2 p.m. through Seoul’s public service reservation website, limited to the first 100 applicants.
Participants will receive gifts such as reading stands and book vouchers, and book signing tickets will be distributed starting at 9:30 a.m. on the day of the event at Kyobo Book Centre’s Children’s Concierge Desk.
Throughout the festival, Gwanghwamun Square will also feature daily live performances including magic shows, balloon art, and live music, scheduled three times daily at 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m., in collaboration with the Seoul Street Live Performance Project.