Thailand's largest cultural celebration in South Korea returns to Seoul this weekend, bringing together thousands of visitors for a spectacular showcase of Thai traditions, food, and entertainment. The Sawasdee Seoul Thai Festival 2025 will take place September 6-7 at Cheonggye Plaza and the Gwangtonggyo Bridge area, hosted by the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul. Organizers are expecting more than 60,000 visitors over the two-day event, with over 30,000 anticipated on the first day alone. Admission to the festival is completely free.
This year's festival carries the theme "Discover Thailand" and marks a significant milestone in celebrating 10 years of growing cultural ties between Thailand and South Korea. The event highlights the strengthening tourism and economic partnerships between the two nations through food, music, and traditional arts. Thai Ambassador Tanee Sangrat emphasized that the festival has evolved into a powerful cultural platform for connecting Thailand and South Korea, noting that it will spotlight the fusion of Korean and Thai cultures through collaborations in K-content and T-content, along with Muay Thai and traditional performances.
One of the festival's most anticipated attractions will be a live Muay Thai demonstration featuring Buakaw Banchamek, a globally recognized icon of Thai martial arts. The legendary fighter will not only perform demonstrations of the traditional combat sport but will also meet with fans throughout the event. The festivities will officially begin Saturday morning with an impressive 593-meter opening parade featuring traditional Thai performers and a giant elephant balloon that will wind through the festival area.
The entertainment lineup promises to be exceptional, with the festival spotlighting Thailand's growing cultural exports through a dedicated K-pop and T-pop music stage. Major Thai artists scheduled to perform include popular stars Nanon Korapat, Ally, and Fourth Nattawat, representing Thailand's expanding entertainment industry. Additionally, a T-pop singing contest will take place on Sunday, offering visitors a deeper look into Thailand's rapidly growing music scene and providing emerging artists with a platform to showcase their talents.
Beyond the main stage performances, festival-goers can explore more than 80 different booths offering an authentic taste of Thai culture. These booths will feature genuine Thai street food, traditional massage services, handcrafted items, and comprehensive tourism information for those interested in visiting Thailand. Evening performances will include traditional Thai dance presentations, the elaborate "Pattaya Fantasy Show," and special collaborative cultural stages that blend Thai and Korean artistic elements.
The festival enjoys strong institutional support from multiple Thai government bodies, including Thailand's Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Culture, and Interior, as well as the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Korean partners supporting the event include the Seoul districts of Jongno-gu and Jung-gu, along with the ASEAN-Korea Center, demonstrating the bilateral commitment to cultural exchange.
The timing of this celebration is particularly significant as Korea and Thailand continue negotiations on a bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement, building upon the broader Korea-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement framework. This weekend's festival aims to deepen both public understanding and diplomatic ties between the two countries, taking place in one of Seoul's most iconic and accessible public spaces.
Visitors planning to attend are strongly advised to use public transportation due to traffic restrictions in the festival area. The most convenient access points are City Hall Station, served by Seoul Subway Lines 1 and 2, or Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5, both of which provide easy walking access to Cheonggye Plaza and the surrounding festival venues.
