The first snow of 2025 on Dec 04, known in Korea as “Cheonnun” (첫눈), arrived quietly and gracefully, laying down a soft 5cm blanket of white across the city. It wasn’t a storm. It wasn’t dramatic. It was a feeling.
The air turned crisp, the usual city noise softened, and Seoul woke up wrapped in a calm, manageable winter dream. For a few precious hours, the city felt slower, gentler, and strangely intimate.
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| Seoul's First Snow of the Season 2025 (Instagram @seoul_official) |
If you missed it, here’s what Seoul looks like when winter arrives softly—like powdered sugar instead of a snowstorm.
1. Gwanghwamun Square: A Royal Dusting
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| First Snow at Gyeongbokgung Palace |
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| First Snow at Gyeongbokgung Palace |
Instead of chaos, the scene felt elegant. The wide plaza—normally packed with commuters and tourists—seemed to breathe. The muted gray sky and white ground made the vibrant Dancheong colors of the palace gates stand out even more.
This wasn’t winter at its harshest. This was winter at its most graceful—perfect for a slow walk and quiet reflection.
2. Cheonggyecheon Stream
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| First Snow at Cheonggyecheon Stream |
Down by Cheonggyecheon Stream, the city felt unusually peaceful. The water flowed dark and steady while the stone embankments wore a clean white coat. And then there was Haechi—Seoul’s iconic guardian mascot.
The giant purple statue, lightly dusted with snow, looked less like a monument and more like a friendly winter spirit. As snowflakes fell quietly around it, the scene felt almost surreal, as if someone had shaken a giant snow globe right in the heart of downtown Seoul.
3. Time Travel in the Hanok Village
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| First Snow at Eunpyeong hanok village |
If you want to see the true soul of Korean winter, head straight to a Hanok Village.
As snow settles on the curved black giwa roof tiles, it creates rhythmic white lines that feel almost artistic. The contrast is sharp, timeless, and uniquely winter-only.
The narrow alleys—usually buzzing with visitors—were hushed. Footsteps sounded softer. Even the air felt heavier with calm. Passing wooden gates and stone walls, with the faint scent of tea drifting from a nearby teahouse, it felt like stepping straight into the Joseon Dynasty.
This is where winter in Seoul becomes poetry.
4. Walking Through a Winter Whisper
This 5cm snowfall was the perfect kind—the kind you walk through, not fight against.
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| Frosted Trees at First Snow |
Frosted Trees
Branches weren’t bending or breaking. They were simply frosted. Streets lined with ginkgo and pine trees turned into delicate white tunnels.
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| Seoul in White at First Snow of the Season 2025 |
A Romantic Atmosphere
People stopped just to look up.
In Korea, there’s a belief that seeing the first snow with someone you love brings true love. Looking around at couples sharing umbrellas and snapping photos, it felt like the entire city was quietly leaning into that romance.
5. City Views & Namsan in Soft Focus
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| First Snow at Seoul Namsan Tower |
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| Seoul in white at First Snow |
From afar, Seoul wasn’t erased by snow—it was outlined by it.
Looking toward Namsan Mountain and N Seoul Tower, the view felt misty and textured. Snow gently highlighted mountain ridges, rooftops, and high-rise edges, reminding us how beautiful this concrete jungle can be when nature softens its lines.
Sometimes, Seoul doesn’t need to change—just to be softened.
Photos by Instagram @seoul_official and @visitkorea_travel
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