People celebrate St. Patrick's Day at D-Cube City Plaza outside Sindorim Station in Seoul on March 16, 2024. (Credit: Tom Coyner)
People celebrate St. Patrick's Day at D-Cube City Plaza outside Sindorim Station in Seoul on March 16, 2024. (Credit: Tom Coyner)

This Saturday, a corner of Seoul will turn green as the Irish Association of Korea and the Embassy of Ireland in Korea host their annual St. Patrick's Day celebration with a cultural festival at Sindorim D-Cube City Plaza, near Exit 1 of Sindorim Station.

St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on March 17, honors Ireland’s patron saint and has grown into a global celebration of Irish heritage.

In Seoul, the annual festival offers a vibrant mix of live music, dance and family-friendly entertainment, all infused with an Irish flair.

Visitors are encouraged to wear something green and take part in costume contests, face painting, a raffle and more activities.

One of the event’s highlights is the ceili, a traditional Scottish and Irish social gathering featuring music and dance. Attendees will have the chance to experience Irish set dancing, a form of folk dance in which groups of eight move in formation to lively rhythms.

The festival runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Sindorim. After that, the celebrations continue in Itaewon with Paddy's Pub Parade, an afterparty that kicks off at 8 p.m. It takes place at four Irish pubs -- The Craic House, Phillies, Shenanigans and Rabbit Hole — featuring live music, an electric atmosphere and a live screening of Ireland’s final Six Nations match against Italy.

People celebrate St. Patrick's Day at D-Cube City Plaza outside Sindorim Station in Seoul on March 16, 2024. (Credit: Tom Coyner)
People celebrate St. Patrick's Day at D-Cube City Plaza outside Sindorim Station in Seoul on March 16, 2024. (Credit: Tom Coyner)

hwangdh@heraldcorp.com