Tradition & cultureGangneung, Gangwon State

Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival 2023 in Gangneung, Gangwon State, South Korea

정동진 해맞이축제 2023

Dec – Jan2023
31 –1
Sun–Mon From 20:00 on 31 December
Past edition

31 December 2023 to 1 January 2024 · From 20:00 on 31 December

This edition has ended. It is kept as a record of what the 2023 festival offered. The current information is on the Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival page (Expected Dec/Jan 2026–27).

Dates31 Dec – 1 Jan 2024
HoursFrom 20:00 on 31 December
WeatherDecember average 8/0 °C (46/31 °F), 37 mm of rain
January average 5/−3 °C (42/27 °F), 48 mm of rainMonthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Gangneung station, about 15 km away.
VenueJeongdongjin Sandglass Park and beach (beside Jeongdongjin Station)강원특별자치도 강릉시 강동면 정동역길 17 (정동진역 일원)
AdmissionFree; the evening programme, the hourglass rotation and the sunrise need no ticket (KTO lists admission as free).
Next edition2024: 31 Dec – 1 Jan 2025

Program

  • Special stage at Sandglass Park: year-end performances by local singers, the 'Welcome Jeongdongjin' hope concert, hourglass rotation, fireworks and a wish zone
  • Parallel programme at Gyeongpo Beach: wish-lighting zone in the pine grove, busking, EDM, fireworks and countdown

About the festival

The Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival is Gangneung City's free New Year's Eve and first-sunrise event at Sandglass Park beside Jeongdongjin Station on Korea's east coast, where an 8 m hourglass is turned over at midnight. In 2025–26 it ran 20:00–00:30 on 31 December and 06:00–08:00 on 1 January, with sunrise at 07:39; the 2026–27 edition is expected on the night of 31 December 2026 but had not been announced by 19 October 2026. Jeongdongjin is about 2 h 10 m from Seoul Station by KTX-Eum (₩28,300), but in the timetables checked no regular train arrived before sunrise, so arrive on the 31st or take a special New Year train.

Transport, booking, crowd and accessibility details are on the main Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival page, which covers every edition.

Source

Facts checked
21 October 2026, against the sources listed below.

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