Spending New Year’s Eve in the Seoul Special City, South Korea, is sure to be an experience you won’t forget. With over ten million people, the celebrations in Seoul include upwards of a hundred thousand in the streets, dancing and having a great time to ring in the new year. With over 250,000 internationals, if you’re visiting from out of the country you’re sure to find other people who speak your language to share in the festivities.

2010 is sure to be an especially big year in Seoul, as it was designated the 2010 World Design Capital by the renowned International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) for its technologically advanced infrastructure, well-preserved cultural heritage, the world’s most far-reaching, fastest 100Mbps fiber-optic broadband network, and the period of the Miracle of the Han River. All of these accomplishments have finally received world renown with the WDC designation, and Seoul’s citizens are sure to be celebrating extra hard this year. Be sure to visit City Hall in Seoul Plaza, ideally before or after the wild celebrations on New Year’s Eve and Day.

On New Year’s Eve, the two most popular places to be are Seoul Plaza and the Bosingak bell pavilion in Jongno, literally “bell street.” Both are likely to be packed to the brim with thousands of people armed with roman candles to shoot off once the new year arrives. Dancers twirling white ribbons in traditional red, yellow and blue dress make their way through the crowds, and the atmosphere is one of jubilation and suspense. In Seoul Plaza especially, outside of city hall, politicians are likely to make speeches about Seoul and the future, to raucous excitement and national pride. Stages will be set up all around Seoul Plaza, with musical and performance acts ranging from traditional Korean drumming to famous Korean pop groups.

The most excitable crowds, however, are likely to be in the Bosingak bell pavilion. Every New Year’s Eve at midnight, tens of thousands of Seoulites gather in the crowded square under the belfry and the iconic Samsung building, all lit up in laser and neon reds, greens and blues. Make sure to grab an early dinner, get the liquor you’ll need beforehand, and secure your spot early, as the area is likely to be mobbed come midnight! After all the thousands of people count down in unison, in both Korean and English, at the stroke of twelve the giant bell tolls thirty-three times. Everyone shoots off roman candles at once, and all the Koreans sing Auld Lang Syne together in Korean (before 1948 Auld Lang Syne was the official Korean national anthem, and it is still an important song in the national character).

After the New Year’s celebrations, the bars stay open all night. If you’re an international, meet up with American, Canadian, Australian, or any other international tourists and hit the bars with everyone else. No matter what you do, don’t fall asleep! There’s an old Korean saying about New Year’s Eve which goes, “If you fall asleep tonight, tomorrow your eyebrows will be snow-white.” With so many revelers partying until the sun comes up on New Year’s Day, we can guarantee that won’t be a problem!

On New Year’s Day, if you’re still awake by morning, it’s traditional Korean custom to gather and see the first sunrise of 2010 at Dobong Mountain in northern Seoul. Koreans traditionally make New Year’s Wishes with the sunrise, the equivalent of Western New Year’s Resolutions. After a night of partying, it’s a lovely way to cement your intentions for the new year.

Images by interrupt, fukagawa (1 + 2), andrewcurrie, tylerdurden, kkoshy, travlinman43

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