If your idea of a perfect Seoul summer night involves a sunset hike, K-pop on a mountaintop, and tteokbokki at midnight — this one’s for you. The 2026 N Seoul Tower Global Night Walk is back, and it’s the most fun excuse to climb Namsan all summer.
Hosted by N Seoul Tower (operated by CJ Foodville) under the slogan “Walk the Nature, Taste the City, Meet the World,” the event packs a 6-kilometer night hike, live music, mission checkpoints, and a full K-food & K-pop after-party into one bridge-to-summit experience. Three sessions are confirmed: June 13, July 4, and July 11, each running from 4:30 PM to 11:00 PM.
The route: Baekbeom Plaza to the Octagon
The course starts at Baekbeom Plaza (백범광장), the sunny lawn next to Namsan Library, and finishes at the Octagon Pavilion Plaza (팔각정 광장) right under N Seoul Tower. In between, you’ll follow the Namsan Dulle-gil trail through some of the most photogenic spots on the mountain:
- Baekbeom Plaza (start) — warm-up zone with live band, sports challenges, and stretching led by viral fitness influencer Heungdoongi (흥둥이)
- Seoul Education Research & Information Center
- Samsoonee Stairs (삼순이 계단) — the famous staircase from the K-drama My Lovely Sam Soon
- Waryongmyo Shrine (와룡묘) — quiet Joseon-era shrine tucked into the forest
- Seokhojeong (석호정) — historic archery pavilion still in active use
- South Entry Trail
- Octagon Pavilion Plaza (팔각정 광장) (finish) — the lit-up base of N Seoul Tower
It’s roughly 6 km. Pace it casually and you’ll arrive just as the city below starts switching on its lights.
It’s not just a walk — it’s a checkpoint mission
What separates this from a normal nighttime hike is the gamified layer baked into the course. Mission checkpoints scattered along the trail give you small tasks to clear — expect photo missions, quick group challenges, and brand-sponsored mini-games. For those who want it more social, the optional “Walk & Mission Mate” add-on pairs you with a team to tackle the missions together, the easiest way to actually meet other walkers (Korean and international alike) on the trail.
Translation: it’s a 6 km walk wrapped around a low-stakes nighttime treasure hunt. Even casual walkers finish in time for dinner.
“This is a global wellness event where you can walk through nature, taste Seoul, and enjoy the night together with people from all over the world.”
— CJ Foodville spokesperson
What the night looks like, in 60 seconds
If you’ve never done the Namsan night ascent before, here’s the vibe: forest trail, city lights peeking through the trees, then the tower blooming over the ridge. This 2025 clip from a popular Seoul YouTuber captures why the route became Hallyu canon — including a shoutout to its appearance in Netflix’s K-pop Demon Hunters.
Video: “K-POP 데몬 헌터스 속 야경 성지 남산 서울타워” — N Seoul Tower at night on YouTube.
The after-party: Namsan Night Market
Cross the finish line and the second half of the event begins. The Namsan Night Market at the Octagon Plaza turns into a small open-air festival: K-food trucks, K-pop performances, lucky draws, and brand sampling booths. CJ Foodville is leaning hard into the “K-food meets the world” angle, so expect both Korean classics and globally-inspired bites pulled from its restaurant portfolio.
Every finisher walks away with a kit: a commemorative T-shirt, race bib, finisher medal, LED armband, handkerchief, gear bag, an N Seoul Tower observatory ticket, and a coupon pack from event partners. The observatory ticket alone is usually 21,000 KRW — not bad just for finishing a walk.
Plan your night
- Dates: Saturday, June 13 / Saturday, July 4 / Saturday, July 11, 2026 (pick one)
- Hours: 4:30 PM – 11:00 PM KST
- Start: Baekbeom Plaza (백범광장), near Namsan Library
- Finish: Octagon Pavilion Plaza (팔각정 광장), at N Seoul Tower
- Distance: ~6 km, mostly along the Namsan Dulle-gil trail
- Tickets: Early-bird sales started May 11 — up to 30% off via WAUG, LotteON, Coupang, Kakao Reservation, and Gmarket. Check the official Seoul Tower site for the latest lineup of partners.
- Subway access: Seoul Station (Lines 1/4/Gyeongui-Jungang/AREX) Exit 9, ~15 minute uphill walk to Baekbeom Plaza
- What to bring: Light layers (Namsan’s evening breeze gets cool even in July), proper walking shoes, a refillable water bottle, and your phone charged for mission photos
Seoul’s nighttime walking culture is having a moment — from the Han River bridges to the city walls, locals are rediscovering how the city looks once the heat backs off. The Global Night Walk just packages all of it into one ticketed evening: a sunset start, a forest climb, K-pop on a mountain, and a 360° city view to finish.
Pick a Saturday in June or July. The tower will be waiting.
Sources:
CJ Newsroom — 2026 글로벌 나이트 워크 얼리버드 티켓 오픈 (May 11, 2026) ·
Newsis — 남산의 밤 즐겨볼까 N서울타워, 글로벌 나이트 워크 티켓 오픈 ·
The Asia Business Daily (EN) — Night Walk and Gourmet Journey at Namsan ·
Hankyung — CJ Foodville N서울타워 글로벌 나이트 워크 ·
Visit Seoul — N Seoul Tower at Night ·
N Seoul Tower official site
