The six-metre high light model of the Old Town Hall with an astronomical astronomical clock is one of the main icons of this year's Seoul Lantern Festival. The Lantern brings the light of Prague, its history and its current creative face to Christmas in Seoul.
Prague as a light magnet of Seoul
From 12 December 20025 to 4 January 2026, the centre of the South Korean metropolis is transformed into a gallery of light. Hundreds of lanterns light up every evening on the banks of the Cheonggyecheon River, and this year Prague is prominently among them. The six-metre lantern of the Old Town Hall with its astronomical astronomical clock is one of the largest and most visible installations of the Seoul Lantern Festival 2025.
The project was initiated by CzechTourism's Foreign Representation in Korea in close cooperation with Prague City Tourism, which also contributed financially to its implementation. The visual concept of the lantern follows the game Playing Prague, one of the key tools of destination marketing of the Czech capital, which has been available in Korean since December this year.
The Old Town Hall in Korean light
The creators made the lantern from traditional Korean hanji paper, known for its strength and ability to gently diffuse light. As a result, the installation creates a soft, elegant glow that attracts visitors' attention from afar. The motif of the Old Town Hall with the astronomical clock connects Prague's historical heritage with the Asian tradition of light festivals, where lanterns symbolize hope, happiness and positive energy.
The installation was among the first to appear on the festival route on the weekend of 7 December – and stands adjacent to presentations from other global destinations.
A festival to light up the city and the emotions
The Seoul Lantern Festival is held annually by the Seoul Tourism Organization around Gwanghwamun Square and along the 1.2km-long promenade by the Cheonggyecheon River. Every day between 6pm and 10pm, some 400 light objects, ranging from monumental landmarks to playful art installations, light up the area. This year's theme is „My Light, Our Dream – Magic of Seou“l and naturally blends in with the Christmas atmosphere of the surrounding markets.
„The Old Town Hall Lantern Project was prepared in very close cooperation with Prague City Tourism. Together we want to present Prague in Korea as an attractive and innovative destination that attracts not only with its historical heritage, but also with its culture, design and lifestyle. This presentation is all the more important at a time when Prague and Seoul are connected by direct air links of two airlines - Korean Air and Asiana Airlines," says Michal Procházka, Director of CzechTourism's Foreign Representation in Korea.
„The design of the light installation of the Old Town Hall in Seoul is based on the mobile game Playing Prague, which accompanies this year's marketing campaign of Prague. On this occasion, we also had the game translated into Korean. The Lantern Festival is a fun and interactive presentation of Prague to Korean travellers, tens of thousands of whom visit the Czech capital every year, among other things thanks to the direct air connection," adds Prague City Tourism Board Vice-Chairwoman Jana Adamcová.
In this way, Prague presents itself in Seoul before Christmas not only as a city of history, but also as a brand that can inspire, surprise and shine, literally.
From 12 December 20025 to 4 January 2026, the centre of the South Korean metropolis is transformed into a gallery of light. Hundreds of lanterns light up every evening on the banks of the Cheonggyecheon River, and this year Prague is prominently among them. The six-metre lantern of the Old Town Hall with its astronomical astronomical clock is one of the largest and most visible installations of the Seoul Lantern Festival 2025.
The project was initiated by CzechTourism's Foreign Representation in Korea in close cooperation with Prague City Tourism, which also contributed financially to its implementation. The visual concept of the lantern follows the game Playing Prague, one of the key tools of destination marketing of the Czech capital, which has been available in Korean since December this year.
The Old Town Hall in Korean light
The creators made the lantern from traditional Korean hanji paper, known for its strength and ability to gently diffuse light. As a result, the installation creates a soft, elegant glow that attracts visitors' attention from afar. The motif of the Old Town Hall with the astronomical clock connects Prague's historical heritage with the Asian tradition of light festivals, where lanterns symbolize hope, happiness and positive energy.
The installation was among the first to appear on the festival route on the weekend of 7 December – and stands adjacent to presentations from other global destinations.
A festival to light up the city and the emotions
The Seoul Lantern Festival is held annually by the Seoul Tourism Organization around Gwanghwamun Square and along the 1.2km-long promenade by the Cheonggyecheon River. Every day between 6pm and 10pm, some 400 light objects, ranging from monumental landmarks to playful art installations, light up the area. This year's theme is „My Light, Our Dream – Magic of Seou“l and naturally blends in with the Christmas atmosphere of the surrounding markets.
„The Old Town Hall Lantern Project was prepared in very close cooperation with Prague City Tourism. Together we want to present Prague in Korea as an attractive and innovative destination that attracts not only with its historical heritage, but also with its culture, design and lifestyle. This presentation is all the more important at a time when Prague and Seoul are connected by direct air links of two airlines - Korean Air and Asiana Airlines," says Michal Procházka, Director of CzechTourism's Foreign Representation in Korea.
„The design of the light installation of the Old Town Hall in Seoul is based on the mobile game Playing Prague, which accompanies this year's marketing campaign of Prague. On this occasion, we also had the game translated into Korean. The Lantern Festival is a fun and interactive presentation of Prague to Korean travellers, tens of thousands of whom visit the Czech capital every year, among other things thanks to the direct air connection," adds Prague City Tourism Board Vice-Chairwoman Jana Adamcová.
In this way, Prague presents itself in Seoul before Christmas not only as a city of history, but also as a brand that can inspire, surprise and shine, literally.
This page has been translated using Automated translation service.
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