By Cao Thi Ha
Video = Official YouTube account of Seoul Culture Portal

To celebrate New Year's Eve, Seoul from the middle of next month will transform itself into a venue for a colorful festival of lights.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Nov. 22 said it will host this year's Seoul Winter Festa from Dec. 15 to Jan. 21.

This mega urban festival features winter events that used to be held across the capital. Under the theme "Lights Never Existing in the World, Coloring Seoul," the event will feature vivid light shows such as a media facade and events using projection mapping technology at seven leading spots in the city: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Bosingak Pavilion, Sejong-daero Road, Gwanghwamun Square, Open Songhyeon Green Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Seoul Plaza. 

"Seoul Light," an iconic media art exhibition representing the city, will run from Dec. 15 to Jan. 21 at Gwanghwamun Square and from Dec. 21-31 at DDP. A mega media facade will be installed on an 800-m path between a woldae (elevated ceremonial stage) and Gwanghwamun Square, and DDP's outer wall will display media artworks like "Digital Atlantis" and "Seoul Light DDP Winter."

The Seoul Lantern Festival, which marks its 15th year, will be held in and around Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon and Seoul Plaza throughout the festival. Among the spectacles will be dazzling large sculptures like one capable of projection mapping in the form of a 360-degree 3D sphere and another of a dragon waking up on a cloud to mark the Year of the Dragon next year under the Asian zodiac.

The Light Festa in Songhyeon will be held at Open Songhyeon Green Plaza in Jongno-gu District and the annual Christmas Market at Gwanghwamun Square and DDP. Seoul Plaza Skating Rink will run from Dec. 22 to Feb. 11.

To promote Seoul Winter Festa, the city will also host SeoulCon from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1 at DDP. Around 3,000 teams of global influencers from 50 countries will visit downtown Seoul to livestream events and create content to promote the winter festival.

On Dec. 31, 18 people will attend the annual year-end bell-ringing ceremony at Bosingak Pavilion including representatives selected from open recommendations from civic leaders and global influencers. After ringing the bell 33 times, a 12 m-diameter sphere, "Midnight Sun," will rise on the sky to herald the beginning of 2024.

"The Seoul Winter Festival will be a starting point for Seoul's rebirth as a world-class festival city befitting its status as a global culture destination," said Choi Kyung-ju, head of the city's Culture Headquarters. "We will do our best to ensure that everyone enjoys the mega festival in a safe and joyful manner."

Since Nov. 22, the city has sequentially launched promotional videos for the festival on its YouTube and social media channels. More information about the festival will be available on its website from early next month.

This is the official poster for this year's Seoul Winter Festa.