Urban pop‑up pool set to refresh Gwanghwamun Square this summer

Visitors cool off in the water during the 2024 Seoul Summer Beach event at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, in this undated handout photo. Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization

The heart of Seoul is set to turn into a lively city-center pool this Saturday, as the 2025 Seoul Summer Beach event opens at Gwanghwamun Square, offering residents and visitors a reprieve from the sweltering summer heat.

Starting this weekend and running through Aug. 8, the festival returns for its third year with the theme "Let’s Dive into Gwangbok!" marking the 80th anniversary of the country’s independence from Japanese colonial rule, observed annually on Aug. 15. "Gwangbok" is the Korean word for liberation.

Hosted by the Seoul Tourism Organization and co-organized with the Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the event is sponsored by LIG.

The square will be divided into two main zones: the “water beach zone” and the “sand beach zone.”

Behind the statue of King Sejong, the water beach zone will feature two large swimming pools with depths of 1 meter and 0.8 meters, as well as two water slides decorated with the mascots Bobo and Swoni. The slides, measuring up to 10 meters tall and 14 meters long, will be allowed for children over 110 centimeters tall.

Admission is free, with up to 5,600 visitors allowed daily. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with seven sessions per day. Entry wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis 30 minutes before each session. Swimsuits and swim caps are mandatory, and only aqua shoes or bare feet are permitted in the pools.

In front of the King Sejong statue, the sand beach zone will offer an indoor playground designed as a seaside-inspired retreat, complete with real sand, a children’s bounce pool, wooden canopy shelters and a cooling foot pool.

A poster for 2025 Seoul Summer Beach / Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization

The sand-themed private village operates 10 sessions daily, accommodating up to 80 people per session through advance reservations or on-site registration.

Food trucks and a flea market will also be on site, while nearby fountains will run throughout the day, weather permitting.

Participants who complete a satisfaction survey will be entered into a draw for coffee gift cards. In addition, the first 200 foreign visitors to join the event will receive the Discover Seoul Pass: Heritage Edition, which offers free admission to 12 national heritage sites and discounts at more than 110 partner venues across the capital.

The Seoul Tourism Organization said it will deploy safety personnel and conduct regular water quality checks throughout the venue.