Seodaemun Independence & Democracy Festival
서대문독립민주축제
This major historical festival commemorates the 81st anniversary of liberation at Seodaemun Prison and Independence Park on August 15-16. Beyond official ceremonies honoring independence martyrs, the program features diverse performances including taekwondo, pop opera and concerts by acclaimed musicians. Visitors engage in art contests, walking challenges, stamp rallies and guided museum tours.
- Dates
- Aug 15, 2026 → Aug 16, 2026
- Venue
- 251 Tongil-ro, Hyeonjeo-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul · 🏙️ Seoul
- Price
- Free
- Ticketing
- Official event site
Practical information
- Opening hours
- 10:00~21:00
- Exact location
- Seodaemun Prison History Hall, Independence Park
- Organiser
- Seodaemun-gu
- Phone
- 02-330-1410
🎟️ How to book — Official event site
- 1
Most regional festivals are free entry
Korean municipalities fund a huge number of free festivals (flowers, food, light shows) — free entry is the norm, not the exception, sometimes with paid stalls or activities on site.
- 2
Check the event's official site
The link sits on the event's VisitKorea page — it's the most reliable source for the program, hours, and any last-minute changes.
- 3
Book via a Korean platform if a reservation is required
When a festival has paid premium activities or an attached concert, booking usually goes through NOL or YES24 — see the matching guide on this page.
- 4
Call 1330 when in doubt
Korea's tourism hotline answers in English, Chinese and Japanese, 24/7 — handy for confirming a time or address when the official site is Korean-only.
💡 Good to know
When a price shows as "see details", the organiser simply hasn't published one in advance: in almost all of those cases entry is free and only some on-site activities are paid. Bring a little cash — many stalls don't take cards.
Around the same dates
Source : TourAPI