What’s On in Seoul – October 2025
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Autumn turns Seoul into a festival: national holidays bookend folk celebrations, riverside parks glow with drone shows and pop-ups, downtown fills with street theatre, and the city’s venues stack big concerts, art fairs and tech expos. Whether you’re chasing markets, K-pop and club nights, or family crafts and garden trails, October is the sweet spot to roam from hanok villages to the Hangang illuminated after dark.
Pop Culture & Community:
Concerts & Music:
Arts, Exhibitions & Performing Arts:
Theatre, Performance & Dance:
Festivals & Citywide:
Outdoors & Sport:
Food, Drink & Night Markets:
Workshops & Learning:
Business, Tech & Expos:
Halloween:
Want more What’s On details?
Pop Culture & Community:
- Armed Forces Day
- Date: Wed 1 Oct
- Where: Citywide (select ceremonies)
- Details: Parades, displays and commemorations across central districts.
- National Foundation Day
- Date: Fri 3 Oct
- Where: Citywide
- Details: Flag displays, cultural performances and museum activations.
- Chuseok Folk Days at Namsangol Hanok Village
- Dates: Sun 5 – Tue 7 Oct
- Where: Namsangol Hanok Village
- Details: Folk games, craft corners, hanbok photos and music (family friendly).
- Hangeul Day
- Date: Thu 9 Oct
- Where: Gwanghwamun & museum venues
- Details: Calligraphy demos, language workshops and themed performances.
- Heo Jun Festival (Traditional Medicine Culture)
- Dates: Sat 18 – Sun 19 Oct
- Where: Gangseo-gu / Seoul Botanic Park area
- Details: Exhibits, remedies market, hands-on experiences and shows.
Concerts & Music:
- Tom Grennan – Live in Seoul
- Date: Thu 2 Oct
- Where: YES24 Live Hall
- Details: UK pop powerhouse brings his stadium hooks to Gwangjin-gu.
- Hangang Busking Weekender
- Dates: Fri 10 – Sun 12 Oct
- Where: Yeouido & Ttukseom stages
- Details: Free sunset sets along the river; rotating indie and acoustic acts.
- Zandari Festa – Hongdae Showcase Festival
- Dates: Fri 17 – Sun 19 Oct
- Where: Multiple Hongdae venues
- Details: 150+ showcases from Korea and abroad; wristband entry.
- Alan Gilbert & NDR Elbphilharmonie w/ Joshua Bell
- Date: Wed 22 Oct
- Where: Lotte Concert Hall
- Details: Blockbuster symphonic night with star soloist.
- Hangang Fall Festival – DJ Weekenders
- Dates: Sat 25 – Sun 26 Oct
- Where: Ttukseom / Banpo zones
- Details: Dance and electronic sets by the river at golden hour.
- Halloween Club Nights
- Date: Fri 31 Oct
- Where: Hongdae & Gangnam
- Details: Themed parties across major clubs; check costume and ID policies.
Arts, Exhibitions & Performing Arts:
- Seoul Street Arts Festival (Downtown)
- Dates: Mon 6 – Wed 8 Oct
- Where: Seoul Plaza, Cheonggyecheon & surrounds
- Details: Large-scale outdoor performance, circus, installation and parade moments.
- SPAF – Seoul Performing Arts Festival
- Dates: Thu 16 Oct – Sun 9 Nov
- Where: National Theater, ARKO & Daehakro venues
- Details: Contemporary theatre, dance and cross-genre programmes.
- PAMS Choice (Public Showcases)
- Dates: Sat 18 Oct – Sun 9 Nov
- Where: Various venues
- Details: Industry-curated works with public tickets alongside PAMS market.
- NANTA (Non-verbal Kitchen Comedy)
- Dates: Daily, all October
- Where: Myeongdong Theater
- Details: Beat-driven physical comedy; perfect for mixed-language groups.
- JUMP (Martial Arts Comedy)
- Dates: Daily, all October
- Where: Myungbo Art Hall
- Details: Family-friendly non-verbal theatre classic.
Theatre, Performance & Dance:
- Broken Lullaby: Broadcast
- Date: Sat 11 Oct
- Where: Gwanak Culture Space
- Details: Contemporary theatre piece exploring sound, silence and memory.
- Travel of the Soul: Echoes After Time
- Dates: Fri 17 – Sat 18 Oct
- Where: ARKO Arts Theater
- Details: Cross-border dance collaboration (Korea × Hong Kong) with live scores.
- SPAF 2025 — Theatre & Dance Selections
- Dates: Thu 16 Oct – Sun 9 Nov
- Where: National Theater, ARKO & Daehakro
- Details: 20+ works across drama, movement theatre and interdisciplinary performance.
- Dance Reflections × SPAF (VC&A Series)
- Dates: Late Oct (within SPAF window)
- Where: Selected partner venues
- Details: International contemporary dance presentations in partnership with SPAF.
- The Painter’s Show (Live Art + Dance)
- Dates: October (check schedule)
- Where: Central theatre venue (TBA)
- Details: Visual art created on stage with dance and live soundtrack.
Festivals & Citywide:
- Seoul Light: Hangang Bitseom
- Dates: Fri 3 – Sun 12 Oct
- Where: Ttukseom & river islets
- Details: Night installations, projection art and food-truck clusters by the water.
- Han River Drone Light Show
- Dates: Sat evenings through Sat 18 Oct
- Where: Ttukseom Hangang Park
- Details: 1,000–2,000 drones painting the skyline after dusk (weather permitting).
- Seoul International Garden Expo (Public Programs)
- Dates: Through Mon 20 Oct
- Where: Boramae Park & satellite gardens
- Details: 100+ show gardens with guided tours and kids’ story-gardens.
- Hangang Fall Festival
- Dates: Sat 18 – Sun 26 Oct
- Where: Ttukseom, Yeouido & Banpo
- Details: Open-air concerts, dance marathons, sports tasters and markets.
- Garak Oktoberfest Gourmet Night
- Dates: Fri 24 – Sun 26 Oct
- Where: Garak Mall Sky Park (Songpa-gu)
- Details: Rooftop craft beer, BBQ stations and live bands.
Outdoors & Sport:
- Seoul 100K (Ultra-Trail)
- Date: Sat 18 Oct
- Where: Multiple mountains & trailheads
- Details: 100K/50K events linking city and national-park trails.
- Autumn Foliage Walks
- Dates: Peak late Oct
- Where: Namsan, Bukhansan & Seoul Trail segments
- Details: Crisp air and maple colour; bring layers and water.
Food, Drink & Night Markets:
- Bamdokkaebi Night Markets
- Dates: Weekends in October
- Where: Cheonggyecheon, Yeouido, Banpo, DDP & Oil Tank Culture Park
- Details: Rotating food trucks, craft stalls and live music.
- Garak Oktoberfest Gourmet Night
- Dates: Fri 24 – Sun 26 Oct
- Where: Garak Mall Sky Park
- Details: Craft brews, sausages and skyline views.
Workshops & Learning:
- Kimchi Making Class (Daily)
- Dates: All October
- Where: Bukchon / Myeongdong studios
- Details: Make and take home your own jar; English-friendly instruction.
- Korean Cooking Class (Bibimbap & Street-Food Favourites)
- Dates: All October (daily sessions)
- Where: Central studio kitchens
- Details: Hands-on small-group lessons with tasting.
- Korean Calligraphy – Hangeul Brush Workshop
- Dates: Weekly in October
- Where: Insadong / Seongbuk
- Details: Learn basic strokes and compose your name artwork.
Business, Tech & Expos:
- KES – Korea Electronics Show
- Dates: Tue 21 – Fri 24 Oct
- Where: COEX, Gangnam
- Details: Flagship ICT/consumer electronics fair; trade days + public sessions.
- SEDEX – Semiconductor Exhibition
- Dates: Wed 22 – Fri 24 Oct
- Where: COEX, Gangnam
- Details: Full semiconductor supply-chain showcase and forums.
- PAMS – Performing Arts Market in Seoul
- Dates: Sat 18 Oct – Sun 9 Nov
- Where: Multiple venues
- Details: Industry market with ticketed public performances (see “PAMS Choice”).
Halloween:
- Lotte World Horror Halloween
- Dates: All October (selected late nights)
- Where: Lotte World
- Details: Parades, scare zones and extended ride hours.
- Citywide Costume Nights
- Date: Fri 31 Oct
- Where: Hongdae, Itaewon, Gangnam
- Details: Club and bar parties; follow local safety advisories and crowd guidance.
Want more What’s On details?
End summary: Crisp days, neon nights: October in Seoul is built for street-to-skyline wandering — from hanok folk games and downtown street theatre to river light shows, rooftop Oktoberfests and world-class concerts. Book the big tickets early, keep a sweater for late-night strolls, and leave space for a last-minute Hongdae gig or a steaming bowl of tteokbokki between venues.
These listings are curated for October 2025. Confirm dates/times and ticketing directly with organisers as schedules can change.
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