Gwanghwamun Square hosts Bitmorak Festival from 24 October
Published on 10/18/2026 at 02:20 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Gwanghwamun Square hosts the Bitmorak Festival in Seoul from 24 October 2026, bringing talks, performances and family activities to the public space. The opening weekend runs from 24 to 25 October 2026 and forms part of a programme continuing through December.
Bitmorak Festival opens at Gwanghwamun Square on 24 October
The festival is organised by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and begins on Saturday, 24 October 2026. Activities are planned across the Nori Madang performance area and the Garden of Gratitude, a newer section of the square that opened in May 2026.
The first weekend combines humanities lectures, street performances and participatory activities. The programme includes music, magic and fusion Korean traditional music, alongside a Nobel quiz and family activities at the Garden of Gratitude. A calligraphy activity will also return during the weekend. Yonhap’s festival report describes the opening programme and the city’s plans for later months.
History talks connect the festival with Seoul’s civic square
The opening programme links the event directly to the history of the square. At 5pm on 24 October 2026, Shin Hee-kwon of the University of Seoul is scheduled to speak to 100 children about the history and significance of the place at the Garden of Gratitude.
Further talks are planned on the Nori Madang stage at 11am and 3pm on 24 October 2026, and at 3pm on 25 October 2026. Speakers from children’s, literary and general-interest fields are included in the programme. The combination of lectures and performances means that the square itself becomes both the subject of the history session and the venue for the wider festival. Seoul’s event plan places the festival at Gwanghwamun Square and lists its opening weekend for 24 and 25 October 2026.
November story tours extend the Gwanghwamun programme
The festival is scheduled to continue after its opening weekend. In November 2026, the city plans to introduce Bitmorak Story Tours, which will lead visitors around the square while explaining its history and associated stories.
The November tours are intended for children and families, foreign visitors and young soldiers, with tailored interpretation and evening tours among the planned formats. In December 2026, the programme is due to add a children’s history mission game. Participants will move between the statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong and the Garden of Gratitude while completing history questions and missions.
Visiting Gwanghwamun Square: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Bitmorak Festival takes place at Gwanghwamun Square from 24 to 25 October 2026, with activities in the Nori Madang area and the Garden of Gratitude.
- The opening weekend offers talks, street performances, music, magic, fusion Korean traditional music, family activities, a Nobel quiz and calligraphy. The 5pm history lecture on 24 October 2026 is intended for 100 children.
- Gwanghwamun Square is in central Seoul. The festival plan identifies the site as the public square and names the Nori Madang area and Garden of Gratitude as event locations.
- Visitors will encounter an outdoor civic space with several named activity areas, statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong, and the Garden of Gratitude. The December mission game is planned to use these places.
- The official language is Korean and the national currency is the South Korean won.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Gwanghwamun Square
When does the Bitmorak Festival take place at Gwanghwamun Square?
The opening weekend takes place from 24 to 25 October 2026. Related story tours are planned for November 2026.
What can visitors see at Gwanghwamun Square during the festival?
The programme includes humanities talks, street performances, music, magic, fusion Korean traditional music, family activities, a Nobel quiz and calligraphy.
Where is Gwanghwamun Square and how do you get there?
Gwanghwamun Square is in central Seoul. The event information identifies the Nori Madang area and the Garden of Gratitude as the opening-weekend venues.
