Last updated: September 2026
Quick answer: The Seoul Moon Chuseok event (“서울달 아래, 보름달 소원”) runs September 24 – October 5, 2026 at Yeouido Park, right beneath the city’s tethered helium balloon Seoul Moon. It’s a free, city-run program of Chuseok games and photo spots split into two weekly themes — giant yut nori and a wish tree in week one, a Seoul Moon-themed matching game and quiz roulette in week two — open daily from 3–9 PM over the holiday and 5–9 PM on weekdays.
What Is the Seoul Moon Chuseok Event?
It’s a Chuseok-season program jointly run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization underneath Seoul Moon, the tethered gas balloon that has floated above Yeouido since it opened in August 2024 as one of the city’s newer night-sightseeing attractions, rising as high as 130 meters. Rather than a ride, the event is a ground-level program of traditional and Instagram-friendly activities timed to Korea’s harvest holiday, built around two large full-moon sculptures (one 3 meters, one 2 meters wide) set up as photo points near the balloon’s launch site.
When and Where Exactly Is It Running?
The event runs for 12 days, from Thursday, September 24 through Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Seoul Moon site in Yeouido Park on the Han River’s north bank. Hours are 3 PM–9 PM on the Chuseok holiday itself (Sept 24–27) and the following weekend (Oct 3–5), and 5 PM–9 PM on the weekdays in between (Sept 28–Oct 2). Everything is free and open-air, with no reservation needed.
What Can Visitors Do There?
The program is split into two back-to-back weeks with different activities. In week one (Sept 24–27), there’s a giant version of yut nori — the traditional four-stick board game families play over Chuseok — plus a wish tree where visitors decorate the tree with their own Chuseok wishes, and a random dice-roll photo game. In week two (Sept 28–Oct 5), the program shifts to a “13-second matching” challenge, named after the roughly 13 seconds it takes Seoul Moon to reach its maximum height, along with a Seoul Moon-themed quiz roulette. Both weeks keep the two full-moon sculptures as a standing photo backdrop.
How Does This Fit Into the Rest of Chuseok 2026?
The event’s dates line up almost exactly with the Chuseok 2026 public holiday, which runs September 24–26, so it works well as a low-effort add-on to a holiday visit — most of Seoul’s shops and small restaurants near Yeouido stay open, but the city itself is quieter than usual since many residents travel to their hometowns for the holiday. Because it runs through October 5, it’s also a good option for visitors arriving just after the official holiday ends, when trains and central hotels are easier to book.
Is This Different From Seoul’s Other Han River Events?
Yes — it’s a separate, short-run program from the city’s bigger recurring river events. It doesn’t overlap with the Han River Drone Light Show’s fall season, which runs September 12–October 31 at Ttukseom Hangang Park, a different venue further upriver, though both fall within the same autumn stretch if you’re planning a Han River-themed itinerary. For general picnicking, bike-rental, and access tips that apply to Yeouido and the other riverside parks, see our Han River guide.
How Do You Get to Yeouido Park?
Yeouido Park sits closest to Yeouinaru Station (Seoul Metro Line 5), a short walk to the riverside lawn where Seoul Moon launches. National Assembly Station (Line 9) is a slightly longer walk but useful if you’re coming from Gangnam or the airport rail line. No tickets are needed for the Chuseok program itself; arrive in the early evening if you also want a clear view of Seoul Moon’s ascent before the daily activities wind down. According to coverage of the city’s announcement, the two-week program is timed specifically to give visitors a reason to visit the balloon site during the holiday lull rather than just at peak weekends — a detail confirmed in Asia Today’s report on the Seoul Moon Chuseok program.
Quick Summary: Seoul Moon Chuseok Event 2026
- Dates: September 24 – October 5, 2026 (12 days)
- Location: Seoul Moon site, Yeouido Park (Yeouinaru Station, Line 5)
- Hours: 3–9 PM Sept 24–27 & Oct 3–5; 5–9 PM Sept 28–Oct 2
- Week 1 (Sept 24–27): Giant yut nori, Chuseok wish tree, random dice-roll photo game
- Week 2 (Sept 28–Oct 5): “13-second matching” game, Seoul Moon quiz roulette
- Photo spots: Two full-moon sculptures (3m and 2m) near the balloon launch site
- Cost: Free, no reservation