Korea-Japan Festival 2025 in Seoul: A Celebration of Friendship and Culture

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I visited the Korea-Japan Festival 2025 in Seoul held at COEX Hall B in Samseong-dong. This festival, which aims to promote friendship between Korea and Japan, is held every autumn and celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. This year was even more meaningful as it marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, resulting in an array of cultural events.

Korea-Japan Festival 2025 in Seoul

Date: October 12, 2025

Location: COEX Hall B

Time: 11:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Admission: Free

Even though I visited the venue late in the afternoon, the atmosphere was buzzing with energy due to the large crowds. I was able to enjoy a fun and exciting atmosphere with various events and performances.

Many prefectures from Japan had booths offering travel information and small souvenirs. It was easy to spot people lining up to follow them on Instagram or fill out surveys. This year, 87 booths including companies, local governments, and experience and event booths participated in the festival.

Ito En, featuring Ohtani as their model, was giving away gifts through tasting events and survey participation. I often see Ito En Oi Ocha at convenience stores and Olive Young! Today, they were also showcasing rooibos tea, which I was able to sample.

Since it was late in the afternoon, many booths had already finished their events, while others were preparing for the next round.

I was most interested in the information about the Kyushu region of Japan, so I grabbed some brochures. It's the region I've visited the most in Japan, but I always end up going to the same places, so I was able to get information about new destinations this time.

There were booths offering photo opportunities, hands-on activities, and you could also purchase Japanese castella or juice. In particular, the Hanbok (Korean traditional dress) and Yukata (Japanese summer kimono) experiences were very popular.

What's a festival without music? When I visited, Japanese singers Masaya and Takuya were performing, which I enjoyed watching for a while. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to see any Korean singers perform.

Another highlight of the Korea-Japan Festival is the cosplay. People dressed up in various character costumes, attracting a lot of attention. I was sad that I didn't see Kaonashi this year. I've taken pictures of him every year, but maybe I was too late, or maybe he didn't come...

There were also food booths where you could experience Korean and Japanese food culture and enjoy various Japanese delicacies. They were so popular that it was hard to find a seat.

I hope that the Korea-Japan Festival, held under the theme of 'Holding Hands, Towards a Better Future,' will lead to even greater cultural exchange between the two countries.