Seoul Welcome Week 2026 took place May 1-8, hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Tourism Association. The 11th edition of Seoul's flagship hospitality campaign offered foreign visitors AI-powered travel consultations, K-beauty themed activities, art booths, and K-pop cover dance performances — all free. But Seoul's spring season continues through late May and early June. This guide covers the key events you can still catch, plus essentials for international travelers.
Key May Events (Still Going)
1) Lotus Lantern Festival (May 16-17, free)
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. A 3 km parade from Heunginjimun Gate through Jongno to Jogyesa Temple, plus giant lanterns along Cheonggyecheon Stream. English-speaking volunteers everywhere.
2) Buddha's Birthday (May 24, public holiday)
Free temple cuisine at Jogyesa, Bongeunsa, and Jingwansa. Open to foreigners; English-language pamphlets provided at every temple.
3) Han River Spring Festa (entire May, free)
Night media art, food trucks, and kayaking at Yeouido, Banpo, and Ttukseom Han River parks. English info booths.
4) Seongsu-dong Popup Season (entire May)
Pokémon 30th, Gentle Monster x Disney x F1, Misekiseoul x IVE Rei popups running simultaneously.
Early June Events
- June 6 Memorial Day: War Memorial of Korea (Yongsan) free entry, multilingual guides
- Seoul International Book Fair (mid-June): COEX, foreign publishers
- Han River Night Festival (late June): Extended rainbow fountain at Banpo Bridge
Welcome Week Recap (if you missed it)
The 11th edition delivered:
- Welcome Center: Myeong-dong Station — AI Smart Guide, free luggage storage
- Welcome Booth: Yeouido Han River Park — K-beauty and K-pop experiences
- Top programs: AI translation, hanbok photo, K-pop cover dance challenge
Similar services run year-round at Myeong-dong Tourist Information Center and Incheon Airport arrivals.
May-June Seoul Weather
- Avg temperature: May 17-22°C, June 22-27°C
- Rain: Monsoon starts late June — bring an umbrella
- Dress: Short sleeves by day, light cardigan at night, sneakers
- UV: Strong in May — SPF 50+ recommended
5-Day Spring Seoul Itinerary
- Day 1: Incheon → Gangnam hotel → Garosu-gil K-beauty shopping
- Day 2: Gangnam K-beauty treatment or Bongeunsa + COEX
- Day 3: Seongsu-dong popups + café street
- Day 4: Lotus Lantern or Buddha's Birthday (date-dependent)
- Day 5: Han River Festa or Myeong-dong shopping → flight home
5 Essential Apps
- Naver Map / KakaoMap: more accurate than Google Maps in Seoul
- Papago: real-time Korean translation
- Kakao T: taxi hailing
- Visit Seoul app: official tourism, multilingual
- Tmoney card: from any convenience store — subway, bus, taxi unified
Visa & Entry (2026)
- Visa-free entry: US, Japan, Europe, etc. — up to 90 days
- K-ETA required, online 72 hours before arrival (~$8)
- Medical tourism visa (C-3-3): clinic appointment letter required
Good to Know
- Subway and bus have full English signage — don't be intimidated
- 1330 multilingual tourist helpline 24/7
- Cards more useful than cash (Visa/Master accepted everywhere)
- Convenience stores sell foreigner SIM/eSIM cards instantly
Spring 2026 in Seoul is a rare moment when K-beauty, K-pop, 1,200-year-old temples, and indie popups all happen at once in the same city. Gangnampedia offers foreign-traveler guides in 18 languages.