Seoul Welcome Week 2026: free hospitality booths in Myeongdong and Yeouido

If you're traveling to Seoul during the first week of May, the city itself will literally welcome you. The Seoul Metropolitan Government, together with the Seoul Tourism Association, runs Seoul Welcome Week 2026 from May 1 through May 8, with two on-site hubs designed for international visitors.

The timing is intentional: this is the peak overlap of Japan's Golden Week and China's Labor Day holidays, when Seoul's foreign-tourist density spikes. The Welcome Week is the city's way of meeting that wave with face-to-face hospitality rather than just signage.

Where to find it

• Welcome Center — near Myeongdong Station. Right in the heart of Seoul's most-visited shopping district.
• Welcome Booth — Yeouido Hangang Park. Along the riverside park that's become a K-pop fan staple.

What you can actually do there

Both locations are free to use and open to walk-ins:

• K-beauty experience zones. Try Korean cosmetics on the spot — the kind of mini-trial sessions that usually require a department-store appointment.
• K-pop performances. Live stage moments scheduled across the week.
• On-site travel guides. Real humans who can answer "how do I get from here to…" without you having to fight Google Translate.
• AI consultation. Multilingual digital assistants for quick itinerary questions.
• Antenna-shop discounts. Linked to Korea's regional specialty shops, with discount benefits available through public-private partnerships.

Why it's worth a stop

Most welcome events at airports end at the airport. This one extends from arrival into your actual sightseeing day. Cho Tae-sook, Chairman of the Seoul Tourism Association, framed the program this way:

"Seoul Welcome Week is not merely an event but a core platform that gives 'a city worth revisiting' to all visitors."

From a practical standpoint: if you've just landed and want a low-pressure way to grab travel advice, try a K-beauty product without committing to a full purchase, or just have someone help orient you in English/Chinese/Japanese, these two stops are worth a 30-minute detour.

Quick info

• When: May 1–8, 2026 (Friday through following Friday)
• Where: Myeongdong Station area + Yeouido Hangang Park
• Cost: Free
• Languages: Foreign-tourist focused; multilingual support expected

Welcome programs come and go each year. The Seoulist will keep an eye on which ones actually delivered for travelers — and update this page when post-event reports come in.