Announcement

  • On Thursday, August 20, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon unveiled the city's vision for a "Vibrant 24-Hour Economy".
  • Seoul's integrated nighttime environment covers the hours from 6 PM to 6 AM the following day.

Five-Year Targets

  • KRW 5 trillion in additional annual nighttime spending.
  • 30 million international visitors.
  • Nighttime sales raised to 50% of small businesses' total sales.

Extended Hours

  • 269 sports facilities operated by the city, autonomous districts, schools, and parks will stay open until midnight at the latest, depending on each facility's operating conditions.
  • Starting in September, eight municipal museums, art museums, and other cultural facilities that currently offer extended hours once a week will gradually expand their nighttime hours to five days a week, staying open until 9 PM.

Nighttime Destinations

  • Seoul will focus on developing the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Namsan Mountain, Gwanghwamun, and the Hangang River as four major nighttime destinations.
  • Starting in September, DDP and Dongdaemun will pilot "DDP 365 Light," bringing together fashion, design, food, and shopping to establish the area as a year-round nighttime hub.

Transportation

  • Starting in October, late-night "Firefly Buses" will connect major nighttime destinations—including Hongdae, Gwanghwamun, DDP, Myeong-dong, and Gangnam—with subway stations, complementing the existing late-night N buses.

Policy Framework

  • Seoul plans to establish the "Basic Ordinance on the Promotion of the Nighttime Economy," which will take effect in January next year.
  • The Seoul Nighttime Economy Committee will be launched in September to advise on the city's basic plan, coexistence zones, regulatory improvements, and other key initiatives.