As an American expat, it is always nice when your host country enjoys some of the same American traditions that you celebrate from home. In our case, Halloween in Seoul can look a little different here in the big city, but the Koreans don’t miss an opportunity to dress up, make themed treats or go big for an event. So while Halloween isn’t necessarily loads of decorated neighborhoods and lots of candy, it still has a place worth noting.
A City That Thrives on Thrills & Chills
Every October, Seoul transforms into a playground for thrill-seekers and horror lovers alike. From eerie escape rooms to haunted theme park villages and pop-up zombie runs, Seoul fully embraces the spooky season. For the life of me, I have a hard time understanding why Koreans are scared of my 27lbs French Bulldog but seem to have a healthy fear of nothing else. But here we are, and there is evidence everywhere of Korean’s ability to tolerate heart stopping scares.
Koreans have a deep-rooted love of ghost stories, eerie folklore, and adrenaline-pumping thrills that make Halloween here truly an experience worth having. However, Halloween in Seoul isn’t your typical trick-or-treat holiday — it’s a mix of costumes, theme park fun, haunted attractions, and café culture. While Halloween isn’t a traditional Korean holiday, it has quickly become a very popular celebration, especially among young people and travelers looking for a unique cultural twist on spooky season.
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Korea’s Cultural Love Affair with Fear
Fear has long been woven into Korean storytelling. Folk legends are filled with gwishin (ghosts) — often tragic female spirits dressed in white hanbok, wandering old homes or forests in search of justice or peace. The Cheonyeo Gwishin, for instance, is a ghost of an unmarried woman said to haunt abandoned schools or mountainsides. While many may love this type of haunted atmosphere, my family doesn’t particularly seek out the heart stopping scare. So, we’ve found modified ways to enjoy the Halloween season with just the right amount of spookiness.
Where to Celebrate Halloween in Seoul
There is no doubt that Korean’s enjoy a good amusement park experience, and the themed holiday events deliver all the extra flair. We have visited both Everland and Lotte World during Halloween and found them both to be fully immersed in the Halloween spirit.
1. Itaewon: Seoul’s Halloween Central
Itaewon, the international hub of Seoul neighborhoods, still reigns as the epicenter of Halloween celebrations. Expect costumed crowds, themed parties at expat bars, and DJ nights that stretch into the early morning. Many venues host Halloween contests and elaborate photo booths.
2. Everland’s “Blood City” – Get Tickets Here!
For something more theatrical, Everland Theme Park (about 1-2 hours south of Seoul) goes all out with Halloween decorations, zombie parades, and the famous Blood City — a scare zone that rivals any Hollywood horror maze.
3. Lotte World’s “Horror Island: Zombie World” – Grab Tickets Here!
Indoor theme park Lotte World Adventure Park hosts one of Seoul’s biggest Halloween events each year. The park turns into a glowing orange and black wonderland with spooky light shows, trick-or-treat events, and costumed performers. The highlight? “Zombie Prison,” a haunted maze filled with shrieking actors and creepy special effects.
4. Seoul Land “Haunted Cave” – Get Tickets Here!
Seoul Land is a smaller theme park, but packing no less punch for Halloween. Located in Seoul Grand Park complex, make sure to book Sky Lift tickets with your admission and take the scenic route into the park.
Ghost Tours & Family Friendly Celebrations
Seoul Ghost Tours
Several walking tours now dive into Seoul’s haunted history — weaving folklore with real-life historical mysteries. The Seoul Ghost Tour, or the Dark Side of the City: Ghost Stories Walking Tour are available year round but particularly popular during the Halloween season.
Escape Rooms
Escape rooms are huge in Seoul, and Halloween season brings limited-edition horror themes. The Room of Horror in Hongdae traps players in a haunted asylum or cursed mansion — you have one hour to solve the mystery before the “ghost” returns. Find this one and many more here!
Large Malls, International Schools
Many of the large malls (Starfield Coex, IPark, and Lotte World Tower Mall) host Halloween pop-ups, zombie runs or trick or treating events where small children can dress up in costumes. A chance for the little kids to show off their costumes in a fun and less frightening way.
Expat Heavy Areas
You can usually count on international groups to offer some kind of family friendly celebrations. Our US Embassy puts on a large trick or treat event every year and while it is invite only, many expat groups host similar events. Yongsan Family Park has hosted events in the past, but I have not seen details of one yet for 2025.
Pumpkin Patch Events
Bear Foot Gardens, a family run farm in Suwon, puts on a sweet “2025 Pumpkin Family Farms Days” pumpkin patch event. Reservations are a little on the pricey side, they include food and activities, and are available via Facebook.
Best Time to Visit
Halloween in Seoul runs all through October, peaking during the last weekend of the month. Many cafés, theme parks, and bars begin decorating by early October, while costume shops pop up in areas like Dongdaemun, Myeongdong, and Hongdae.
Final Thoughts: Halloween in Seoul
While Halloween may have Western roots, Seoul has made its own version, blending Korean folklore, pop culture, and lots of scare factor. Whether you’re hunting ghosts at night on a Dark History tour, surviving a haunted house at Lotte World, or dancing in the streets of Itaewon — Halloween in Seoul offers an unforgettable mix of fright and fun. So pack your costume, charge your camera, and prepare to scream (and laugh) your way through one of Asia’s most thrilling cities this spooky season.
For more stories about Korean Holidays, check out my posts on Korean Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year.
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I would never have guessed how S Korea has made a western festival their own by adding folklore and local flavour. Enjoyed reading this.
I’d never thought of enjoying Halloween in South Korea, but it looks like a fun mix of western traditions with Korean culture.
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but Seoul was never on my radar for somewhere to go to get into the spooky spirit! Definitely going to make note of this for a potential future trip!!
This is so fascinating! I haven’t had the chance to visit Seoul, but I had no idea Halloween was celebrated so enthusiastically. Your description of the theme parks going all out, especially Everland’s “Blood City,” sounds incredibly intense! It’s really interesting to learn how that cultural love of thrills and ghost stories translates into such a unique, modern celebration. Thanks for sharing this!