Seoul New Year 2027: Countdown & Bell Ringing

New Year 2027 arrives in Seoul at midnight KST (UTC+9) on Friday, January 1, 2027, which is 15:00 UTC on Thursday, December 31, 2026.

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until midnight in Seoul (KST, UTC+9)

Bell Ringing 2027: Expected (annual event)

2027 event

Seoul Bell Ringing 2027

Expected (annual event) Seoul's city government holds the Bosingak bell-ringing ceremony each New Year's Eve; this year's programme and bell-ringers have not been announced, but the daily public bell-ringing at Bosingak is suspended from 26 December to 2 January to prepare for the ceremony, and Bosingak is under repair until early December. Last year's ceremony (New Year 2026) ran from 11 pm to 12:20 am with 33 strikes at midnight and was open to watch, no registration needed.

Event
Bosingak New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony
Type
Bell ringing
Where
Usually held at Bosingak Belfry
When
Traditionally at 00:00 (KST)
Admission
Last year: free
Organizer
Seoul Metropolitan Government
Watch live
Last year the city streamed the ceremony live on the city's official YouTube channel (서울시) and on Live Seoul (tv.seoul.go.kr). Broadcasters for this year have not been announced.

Official updates

Where to watch in Seoul

  1. Bosingak, Jongno — The bell is struck 33 times at midnight. At New Year 2026 the programme ran from 11 pm, with stage performances and a media show projected on the front of the pavilion.
  2. Gwanghwamun Square — At New Year 2026 the Seoul Light Gwanghwamun countdown show ran from 22:50 to 00:30 on a stage at the north end of the square, with the countdown shown on screens at nine buildings.
  3. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) — Last year's countdown there was a media show on the building's exterior wall around midnight; the city's preview also promised a fireworks show, a feature of the DDP countdown since New Year's Eve 2023.
  4. Myeongdong Square — Last year's countdown there used media art on the large LED screen of the Shinsegae Department Store main branch, with performances.
  5. Lotte World Tower, Songpa — Last year's Lotte World Countdown included a rainbow laser lighting show with a New Year message, according to Newsis.

Getting there

  • Last year (New Year 2026) the city announced that subway Lines 1 to 9, the Uisinseol Line and the Sillim Line would run until about 2 am on 1 January with 104 extra trains, and that Line 1 trains would skip Jonggak Station from 11 pm to 1 am. Use City Hall, Jongno 3-ga, Euljiro 1-ga or Gwanghwamun stations instead.
  • Last year (New Year 2026) the city announced traffic control around Bosingak from 6 pm on 31 December to 7 am on 1 January, with 47 bus routes diverted and buses near the venue running until about 2 am.
  • The city publishes traffic controls and transit changes on TOPIS (topis.seoul.go.kr), and the Dasan Call Center (02-120) answers questions.

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AT A GLANCE

Timezone
Korea Standard Time (KST)
UTC Offset
UTC+9
Midnight arrives
Friday, January 1, 2027 at 12:00 AM KST
Celebration order
4th of 37 cities to celebrate (same time as Tokyo)

How Seoul celebrates

Seoul marks the New Year with the Bosingak Bell ceremony in Jongno, held on New Year's Eve since 1953, where the bell is struck 33 times at midnight, representing the 33 realms of Buddhist cosmology and symbolically dispelling worldly troubles, to usher in the year ahead.

Bell-ringers take turns striking the bell (11 people at New Year 2026, including citizens the city called civic heroes), while large crowds fill the streets around Bosingak and nearby Gwanghwamun Square. At New Year 2026, stage performances, a media show projected on the Bosingak pavilion and countdown shows around the city added a modern dimension.

Seoul's New Year blends tradition and pop culture. While the bell ceremony reflects Korea's Confucian and Buddhist heritage, live performances take the stage at Bosingak and Gwanghwamun Square, from a rock band at the New Year 2026 bell ceremony to artists at the Gwanghwamun countdown. Lotte World Tower and Dongdaemun Design Plaza also hosted countdown events and light shows at New Year 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Will there be a bell-ringing ceremony in Seoul for New Year 2027?

Expected, but not yet announced. The Seoul Metropolitan Government stages the Bosingak ceremony each New Year's Eve, with the bell struck 33 times at midnight, and the daily public bell-ringing at Bosingak is suspended from 26 December to 2 January to prepare for it. Last year's ceremony (New Year 2026) ran from 11 pm to 12:20 am and was open to watch, no registration needed; this year's programme and bell-ringers have not been announced yet.

Does Seoul have New Year's Eve fireworks?

On a small scale. Seoul's main New Year's Eve event is the Bosingak bell rather than a fireworks display, but the city's previews of the countdown at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) have included a fireworks show in each of the last three years, launched from the DDP roof for the first time on New Year's Eve 2023. Last year's other countdowns used light and media art, including a rainbow laser show at Lotte World Tower. This year's programme has not been announced.

Where can I watch Seoul's New Year's Eve bell ringing online?

Last year the Seoul Metropolitan Government streamed it live on the city's official YouTube channel (서울시) and on Live Seoul (tv.seoul.go.kr). Streaming arrangements for this year have not been announced.

What time is New Year in Seoul?

New Year arrives in Seoul at midnight Korea Standard Time (KST, UTC+9). In 2027, that is 15:00 UTC on December 31, 2026.

What is the Bosingak Bell ceremony?

The Bosingak Bell ceremony is Seoul's iconic New Year tradition, held on New Year's Eve since 1953. The bell in Jongno is struck 33 times at midnight, symbolizing the 33 realms of Buddhist cosmology and the dispelling of worldly troubles; at New Year 2026 the 11 bell-ringers included citizens the city called civic heroes.

How does Seoul celebrate New Year's Eve?

Seoul's main event is the Bosingak Bell ceremony. At New Year 2026 there was also a countdown show with stage performances at Gwanghwamun Square, and media-façade countdowns and light shows at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Myeongdong and Lotte World Tower.

What time zone is Seoul on New Year's Eve?

Seoul is on Korea Standard Time (KST, UTC+9) year-round and does not observe Daylight Saving Time.

Is Seoul one of the first or last cities to celebrate New Year?

Among the 37 cities on this site, Seoul is the 4th to reach midnight, at the same time as Tokyo. At UTC+9, it celebrates relatively early in the global celebration window.

Where do people celebrate New Year's Eve in Seoul?

A focal point for New Year's Eve celebrations in Seoul: Bosingak Bell Pavilion. See the where-to-watch list above for more places.

What time should I tune in to watch Seoul's New Year celebration?

Midnight arrives in Seoul at 12:00 AM KST (UTC+9) on Friday, January 1, 2027. The main moment of Bosingak New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony traditionally begins at midnight (00:00 KST). Last year the city streamed the ceremony live on the city's official YouTube channel (서울시) and on Live Seoul (tv.seoul.go.kr). Broadcasters for this year have not been announced.

Why is the Bosingak Bell struck 33 times?

The Bosingak Bell is struck 33 times at midnight, a number representing the 33 heavens in Buddhist cosmology. Each strike symbolises the dispelling of worldly troubles. The New Year's Eve ceremony has been held since 1953; in the Joseon Dynasty the bell was used to signal the opening and closing of the city gates.

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This page provides a live countdown to New Year 2027 in Seoul (Korea Standard Time, UTC+9). New Year's Day 2027 in Seoul falls on Friday, January 1, 2027 at midnight KST. Seoul celebrates with the Bosingak Bell ceremony, held on New Year's Eve since 1953, in which the bell is struck 33 times at midnight. Countdown light and media shows at Gwanghwamun Square, Dongdaemun Design Plaza and other landmarks complement the historic observance.