At the German booth of the 14th European Christmas Market held in front of the Seongbuk District Office in Seoul on December 7, a staff member dressed as Santa grills sausages.
SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Seongbuk District in northern Seoul, home to many foreign embassies alongside Itaewon and Hannam, is holding its 14th annual European Christmas Market from December 6 to 7 at the district office courtyard.
Georgian-style dumplings, known as khinkali, are prepared at the Georgia booth at the 14th European Christmas Market held in front of the Seongbuk District Office in Seoul on December 7.
Launched in 2010, the event has evolved into a major cultural gathering where local residents and expatriates celebrate together each winter. This year’s festival is supported by the embassies of 15 European countries — including Greece, Germany, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Georgia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, France, Finland and Hungary.
On December 7, at the 14th European Christmas Market held in front of the Seongbuk District Office in Seoul, Chef Mikael Ashminov — also well known as a television personality — sells ham at the Bulgarian booth.
Twenty-three market booths offer a mix of German and Austrian-style hot beverages, handmade sausages, pastries and other holiday foods. Specialty booths are selling imported goods such as Lithuanian souvenirs, Bulgarian rose cosmetics, Croatian jams, Slovak handicrafts, Finnish xylitol gum and Moomin-themed merchandise.
A visitor reads an information guide at the 14th European Christmas Market held in front of the Seongbuk District Office in Seoul on December 7.
The festivities feature European folk music and Christmas performances, along with visits from Santa Claus and photo opportunities for children and families.
At the French booth at the 14th European Christmas Market held in front of the Seongbuk District Office in Seoul on December 7, breads including baguettes are on display.
The opening ceremony on December 6 included remarks and a ceremonial kickoff led by Hans Alexander Kneider, honorary head of Seongbuk-dong, with participation from diplomatic representatives.
The 14th European Christmas Market held in front of the Seongbuk District Office in Seoul on December 7 is crowded with visitors.
Seongbuk’s embassy corridor, Seongbuk-ro, has long earned a reputation as a “mini U.N.” in central Seoul: the street’s lampposts display national flags from around the world year-round, alongside the Korean flag.
At the Georgia booth at the 14th European Christmas Market held in front of the Seongbuk District Office in Seoul on December 7, ojakhuri, khinkali and kupati are prepared and on display.
Beyond the European Christmas Market, the district hosts Latin American and African cultural festivals and organizes historical walking tours highlighting embassy neighborhoods — reinforcing its identity as one of Seoul’s most internationally engaged communities.
Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
