A massive urban beach will unfold in Gwanghwamun Square, offering refreshing water activities and sandy shores as the 2026 Seoul Summer Beach festival kicks off from July 20 to September 9 in the Gwanghwamun Square and Sejongro Park area.
Now in its fourth year, the Seoul Summer Beach is organized by the Seoul Tourism Foundation. Last year, approximately 1.46 million visitors attended the event.
This year's theme, "Wave Summer, Play Seoul," features an expanded venue that stretches from Gwanghwamun Square to Sejongro Park. The event will be divided into three main zones: the Water Wave Zone (water activities), the Play Wave Zone (sand playground, collaboration booths, flea market), and the Play Market Zone (food options).
The Water Wave Zone will include a large swimming pool, an 8-meter high water slide, water buckets, and a shallow bounce pool for toddlers. To ensure safety, children under 110 cm in height will be restricted from using the water slide, and there will be limits on the number of entrants per session along with strict water quality management.
The Play Wave Zone will feature a sand playground called "Sand Aji" inside a 12-meter diameter air dome, created using about 20 tons of sand sourced from five different beaches, including Yangyang, Ganghwa, Daecheon, Busan, and Gunsan. The Sand Aji will operate nine sessions daily from 1 p.m. to 9:50 p.m., with a maximum capacity of 50 people per session (30 by reservation and 20 on-site).
Reservations for the Sand Aji can be made for free through the Naver reservation system and the official Instagram profile of Seoul Summer Beach. Each person can reserve up to four tickets per session, with cancellations and changes allowed until the scheduled time.
This year's event will also enhance entertainment and food offerings. The newly established Play Market Zone will feature food trucks to cater to visitors' meals and snacks. Additionally, the Play Wave Zone will host a flea market for summer items from small businesses, along with experiential events from various organizations and companies, including the Busan Tourism Corporation (promotional booth and photo zone), ABC Mart (shoe rentals and giveaways), and Dongseo Foods (photo zone and tastings).
Ki Gi-yeon, CEO of the Seoul Tourism Foundation, stated, "Water activities and sand play in the heart of the city create a unique summer landscape that can only be experienced in Seoul. This year, we have enhanced the offerings to ensure everyone can enjoy a cool summer with water play, sand play, relaxation, and various experiential content. We hope both locals and visitors will have an unforgettable summer through these special water activities available only in downtown Seoul."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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