A kaleidoscope of light, music and culture will transform the Korean capital into a winter wonderland this month, as the 2025 Seoul Winter Festa — one of the city’s signature seasonal celebrations — opened on Dec. 12 under the theme "Fantasia Seoul." Connecting six of Seoul’s most iconic downtown spots — Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggye and Ui Streams, Seoul Plaza, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), and Bosingak Pavilion — the festival weaves together light art, K-culture and interactive programs designed to enchant Seoulites and international visitors alike. The event runs through Jan. 4. City bathed in light The festival kicked off with a spectacular ceremony at Gwanghwamun Square, where hundreds of citizens counted down to the grand lighting of a media façade projected against the main gate to Gyeongbok Palace in mesmerizing color. Ahead of the illumination, the Fantasia Light Parade marched through the square, featuring LED performance crews, traditional Korean dancers and musical actors including Choi Jong-won, Lee Jin-hyuk and Joo Min-jin. More than 180 citizen performers joi