A Week-long K-contents Festival at Seoul Spring Festa

Seoul Metropolitan Government is holding “Seoul Spring Festa,” a global festival, for 7 days from April 30 to May 6, 2025 throughout Seoul including Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square, and Deoksugung-gil. The opening ceremony “Seoul Wonder Show” will be held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on April 30, 2025. The ceremony will include a K-pop concert with dance, lasers, and drone show, making it more exciting. The line-up for the concert will be revealed starting the third week of February at the official website with the concert being aired live world-wide to 137 countries. The Seoul Wonder Show ticket will go on sale starting March 4, 2025. The ticket will cost 2,000 won as a processing fee, but for international visitors, additional 6,000 won will be charge to confirm their passport identification. There will be no refund after purchase, so make sure to plan ahead before purchasing. Throughout the festival period, there will be multimedia shows, various events, and K-contents booths including beauty, entertainment, food, and more. To find out more, visit the official website or Instagram @seoulspringfesta_official . | More Info ■ Detailed programs [3-Big Shows] - Seoul Wonder Show: A large scale K-culture performance (April 30 / Seoul World Cup Stadium) - Signature Show: A multimedia show at Seoul Library (May 1-3 / Seoul Plaza) - Seoul Road Show: A large event that can only be experienced at Seoul Festa (May 3 / Sejong-daero ) [3-Theme Spots] - Seoul Plaza Wonder Park: 3 themes (Inspire, Fun, Love) in 3 days programs (May 1-3) - Gwanghwamun Square Wonder Plaza: K-contents themed experience booths including fashion, beauty, entertainment, food, etc. (May 1-6) - Deoksugung Wonderful Road: Beautiful road that combines spring flowers with culture (May 2-6) ■ Website: www.seoulfesta.com/2025

02/13/2025

Strengthened Safety Measures for Power Banks and E-Cigarettes on Flight

Effective March 1, 2025, strengthened safety measures will apply to flight passengers traveling with power banks (portable lithium-ion battery packs) and e-cigarettes. The new safety guideline is currently under review by the Korean government. The new safety guideline is a strengthened version of the current guideline, requiring power banks and e-cigarettes to be brought on flight as a carry on. Restrictions on quantity, volume, and capacity still apply, while stronger rules will apply on storage and security screening. Passengers must receive approval from the airlines upon check in at the counter; a sticker will be placed on approved items to expedite the airport security screening process. On board the flight, passengers must have their power bank’s charging port covered with electrical tape or store the power bank in a safety pouch, or a zipper storage bag to prevent from contact with metallic objects, and carry it with them at all times or place it in the airplane pocket. Both power banks, including approved ones, and e-cigarettes are not allowed to be stored inside the overhead bins. Passengers are also not allowed to charge electronic devices using the power banks in the airplane. In any case a passenger witnesses a power bank become overheated or swell up, they must immediately call and report to a flight attendant.

02/20/2025

Korea Implements e-Arrival Card for Inbound Passengers

Passengers may continue using the paper arrival card until December 2025 Starting February 24, 2025, Korea introduces the e-Arrival card, allowing visitors to submit their entry information online in advance instead of the current paper arrival form system, which is planned to be unavailable after December 2025. Visitors can submit the declaration form up to three days before entering Korea, based on Korean Standard Time. However, if they fail to enter Korea within 72 hours after the submission of their e-Arrival card, the card will no longer be valid. The form can be submitted through e-Arrival card website by entering the required information; the website supports both PC and mobile device. Visitors can download a PDF file of their submitted form, but it is not a requirement for entry inspection. For visitors under 14 years old, a family member or another person must complete the declaration form on their behalf. The form can also be submitted on behalf of adults and for multiple people at once. For more information on the new e-Arrival card system, please visit the official website. More info e-Arrival card website: e-arrivalcard.go.kr * Launches on February 24, 2025 at 14:00 KST Korea Immigration Service website: mojhome.moj.go.kr (Korean, English) * e-Arrival card information can be downloaded in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese

02/20/2025

Buy Single-use AREX Ticket with Your Credit Card

Using AREX to travel from Incheon International Airport to Seoul just got simpler. Now travelers can buy single-use subway cards using their credit cards from home at all AREX stations from Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 Station to Seoul Station. To date, cards could only be purchased using cash, but now, travelers can simply pay using credit card. Single-use subway card still has the deposit system, so travelers will require to use the deposit refund machine to receive their 500 won deposit after leaving the gate at the arrival station. This service will make traveling in Korea easier for international visitors as they can purchase the single-use subway card using their credit card without requiring additional foreign money exchange.

02/12/2025

[Editor's Insight] Explore the Edge of Korea, Find Hidden Gems in Haenam

Haenam in Jeollanam-do is located between Jindo and Mokpo, at the edge of southwest Korea. Also known as a place where Ttangkkeut Village meaning “village at the end of the land,” is located, Haenam

01/23/2025

Celebrate the New Year with Korea’s Traditional Seollal Culture

Seollal, Lunar New Year’s Day, is an important holiday in Korea. The holiday takes place on the first day of the new year according to the lunar calendar and serves as a time for people to greet each

01/15/2025

Best 9 Spots to Greet the New Year in Korea

*Some New Year’s events may be canceled. Please confirm the event schedule before visiting. “Happy New Year!” Everyone has their own way of saying farewell to the passing year and greeting the

12/24/2024

Guide to Winter Festivals

*Please check the festival schedule before visiting, as some festivals may be canceled in observance of the national mourning period. Winter in Korea is dynamic and ever-changing as the weather.

12/13/2024