South Korea is hosting a spectacular array of winter festivals and cultural events across the country, offering visitors diverse experiences from dazzling light displays to culinary adventures. These celebrations, running through early 2024, showcase the nation's vibrant culture and provide entertainment for both locals and international tourists.

The Haeundae Light Festival in Busan has returned for its 12th edition, transforming the famous beach and nearby Gunam-ro area into a winter wonderland through January 18. This year's theme, "Stellar Haeundae," features large-scale light sculptures, immersive media art installations, hands-on programs, and evening events. The festival creates a galaxy-inspired pathway along the beach using shimmering light formations that give visitors the sensation of walking through a starlit Milky Way. Waves of light projected over the sand and shoreline blend seamlessly with Haeundae's natural landscape, turning the city's iconic beach into an otherworldly universe. Festival programs operate daily from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., while the full light displays illuminate the area from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Everland, operated by Samsung CT, launched its annual Christmas Fantasy Festival on Friday, continuing through December 31. The park-wide celebration features a Christmas parade with Santa, Rudolph, and festive floats, alongside a new nighttime "K-Pop Demon Hunters" Sing-along Fireworks Show created in collaboration with Netflix. Daily photo sessions with Santa, elves, and Everland mascots provide family-friendly entertainment, while the Grand Stage presents two daily showings of the holiday musical "Very Merry Santa Village." The Alpine Village has been transformed into Snow Oz Park, offering a rotating 360-degree photo booth and winter-themed installations. Starting mid-December, visitors can enjoy snow-play areas and sledding courses, plus a winter food street serving traditional Korean treats like hotteok, roasted sweet potatoes, and fish cakes.

In Seoul, the K-Food Festival Knock-Knock is taking place at Sejongno Park near Gwanghwamun Square through December 31. The event operates every Friday through Sunday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., with free admission for all visitors. This year's festival highlights Korean cuisine through an expanded lineup of 25 participating food trucks, broadening offerings to 15 categories of Korean dishes. The increased vendor participation aims to provide more small business owners with a platform to showcase their menus while giving both residents and international tourists a broader selection of K-food. The festival's central location and accessible format make it a convenient stop for those looking to explore Korean food culture in the capital.

South Jeolla Province's Hampyeong Winter Light Festival runs through January 11 across the Hampyeong Expo Park area, offering free admission to all visitors. The festival features illuminated installations and nighttime landscaping, creating a seasonal attraction with activities including a light maze, tree decorating, glow-bracelet making, and Santa costume experiences. Music and performance programs enhance the festive atmosphere with Christmas marching bands, carol busking, and theater events. Visitors can also view large-scale media art by artist Lee Lee-nam, alongside exhibitions at the Hampyeong County Museum of Art, the butterfly and insect specimen hall, and various plant pavilions. Food trucks, snack vendors, a character pop-up store, and local specialty booths provide diverse shopping and dining options throughout the park.

Busan's Gwangalli Beach hosts Korea's first permanent drone show, the Gwangalli Marvelous Drone Light Show, every Saturday evening. The 12-minute spectacle is presented twice nightly, with seasonal scheduling: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. from October to February, and 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. from March to September. Regular performances utilize approximately 1,000 drones, while special occasions such as New Year's countdowns, Seollal, and Chuseok feature up to 2,500 drones creating large-scale images and animations across the night sky. The display is synchronized with the backdrop of Gwangandae Bridge, offering panoramic views from anywhere along the beach. The program includes regular and special themed performances, plus public participation events such as best-cut voting and proposal contests, all with free admission, though weather conditions may affect scheduling.