December in Korea means holiday lights, snow (think cute hats and scarves), Christmas, and last but not least, plenty of winter festivals. Why fight the cold and stay bundled at home? Embrace it! Put on a coat and go outside. There are winter events celebrating everything from arts to fruits and winter activities for everyone to enjoy, young and old alike.
As the twelfth month comes to an end and the year draws to a close, people gather at sunrise festival locations across the nation to welcome in the first sunrise of the 2013. When the brand new year comes in, January and February will be the perfect time to revel in the chilly weather and visit any of the snow and ice festivals across the nation. Popular festivals include the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, Pyeongchang Trout Festival, Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival, Inje Icefish Festival, Jaraseom Singsing Winter Festival and many more. When you’ve had enough of the snow and ice, head over to Jeju-do for the hot and smoky Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival that’s not to be missed.
 December Festivals (2012)
Seoul Design Festival 
When: December 12 - 16, 2012
Where: Hall C, COEX (Samseong-dong, Seoul-si)
Since its inception in 2002, the Seoul Design Festival has been widely attended by well-known designers from both home and abroad and has served as a platform for promising new artists to expand their territories. This year, the festival will be revisiting the value of design under the theme of ‘The Human and Designer at the Center of Design’. During the festival, top designers will be showcasing their high-quality art pieces and various other designers will be using the theme to express their individuality through their artworks.
Photo courtesy of Seoul Design Festival Secretariat
Yeongdong Dried Persimmon Festival 
When: December 21 - 23, 2012
Where: Nangye Hall of Korean Classical Music & Youth Training Center, Yeongdong-eup, Yeongdong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do)
Yeongdong is affectionately called the ‘Holy Land of Fruit’ since it is the biggest fruit producer in the nation. Dried persimmons grown from this region are known for their particularly sweet flavor and high quality. During the festival, there are assorted produce exhibitions and some hands-on programs such as “threading persimmon”, “making persimmon vinegar”, “making persimmon cake and jam”, “foot bath with persimmon peels” and “persimmon peeling contest”.
Boseong Green Tea Fields Festival of Lights
When: December 14, 2012 – January 27, 2013
Where: Boseong Green Tea Fields, Hoecheon-myeon, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do
The magical allure of the Boseong Green Tea Fields grows tenfold this winter as bright Christmas lights cast a cheery glow over the expansive fields. Christmas lights and an enormous Christmas tree as well as a number of themed exhibits (the Love Galaxy Light Tunnel, Green Tea Themed Street, etc.) bring “Christmas decorations” to a whole new level.
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