Bosingak New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing 보신각 제야의 종 타종행사
Every year in late Dec
2026 edition
Not announced yet. This is the usual time of year, so check the notice before you plan.
Last official notice: Bosingak Pavilion (Visit Seoul)
About
A New Year's Eve ceremony at Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno. The bell is struck 33 times at midnight on December 31.
In 2025 the program ran from 11 p.m. on Dec 31 to 00:20 on Jan 1. Eleven people rang the bell, including citizens known for helping others. Media performances played on the front of the pavilion during the 33 strikes. The shows before and after the ringing were open to all, with no sign-up.
The bell in the pavilion is a replica, installed on Aug 14, 1985. The old bronze bell (Treasure No. 2) is now in the National Museum of Korea.
Good to know
- Expect a very large crowd. In 2025 the city closed the roads around Bosingak from 18:00 to 07:00 and rerouted 47 bus lines.
- In 2025 trains skipped Jonggak Station (Line 1) from 23:00 to 01:00. The city asked people to use City Hall, Jongno 3(sam)-ga, Euljiro 1(il)-ga or Gwanghwamun stations.
- In 2025 subways and buses ran late, until about 02:00 on Jan 1. The 2026 plan was not announced when we checked.
How busy is Gwanghwamun
Live crowd level for the area, and a normal week. It does not show the festival crowd itself.
Eat here
Memil guksu
Buckwheat noodles in an anchovy-kelp broth, made from 100% buckwheat.
Memil mukbap
Buckwheat jelly over rice.
Memil jeonbyeong
Buckwheat crepe rolled around a filling.
Sources
Checked Oct 16, 2026. Dates can change, so check the notice before you go.