[🇺🇸] 30,000 Gather in Seoul to Welcome the New Year Despite -10°C Chills

As the "Bosingak Bell" tolled to announce the "Year of the Red Horse," January 1, 2026, officially began.

Despite the freezing temperatures of -10°C in Seoul at midnight, approximately 30,000 citizens gathered in front of the Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno to welcome the new year.

This year’s bell-ringing ceremony was especially meaningful, featuring 11 civilian representatives—recognized as the unsung heroes of society—including Kim Gwi-sun, a counselor at a suicide prevention lifeline.

Simultaneously, Gwanghwamun Square hosted the "Stage of Light," a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors. A grand countdown show on massive LED screens and vibrant media facades illuminating the building exteriors transformed the night of Seoul into a work of art, delivering profound emotion and hopeful wishes for the new year to the citizens.

💡ONLINE-KOREA Insight

Happy New Year 2026!

We wish you a healthy and prosperous year ahead, and may all your endeavors bear fruitful results.

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