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Jamsil Christmas Market 2026: How to Book Free Entry (Nov 9)

Checked against 6 Korean sources on Nov 7, 2026 Published: Nov 6, 2026

The short answer: free entry, but book a time slot

The 2026 Lotte Town Christmas Market opens on the World Park (월드파크) lawn next to Lotte World Tower (롯데월드타워) in Jamsil (잠실) on Thursday, November 19, 2026, and runs until Sunday, January 3, 2027. This year the theme is a 19th-century English Christmas market, with a giant tree, a 17 m clock tower, a two-story carousel and British-style food and gifts such as Christmas crackers.

General admission is free this year (last year some time slots were paid). You still need a ticket for a time slot, either reserved in advance or picked up by queuing on site. Booking opens in three rounds, always at 2pm Korea time:

If you want Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, set an alarm for Round 3 on December 7. Each round covers both free tickets and the paid Fast Pass.

Booking as a foreign visitor: use Klook if the Korean site fails

The Korean booking route runs through the Lotte Department Store online mall, linked from Lotte Department Store's Instagram (@lotteshopping) on opening day. One Korean blogger notes the general admission page is hard to open on a PC and works on mobile, so book from your phone.

The easier path for most travelers is Klook, which lists a free "2026 LOTTE TOWN CHRISTMAS MARKET ADMISSION TICKET" (10K+ booked when we checked on November 7). You pick an entry session, then show the voucher in the Klook app at the Information Booth by the World Park entrance. There is no paper ticket to exchange.

Klook's rules match the Korean ones: each ticket admits one person, you can get up to four, and each ticket holder can bring up to two preschool children under 7 for free. Arrive within your session; entry may be refused if you are more than 30 minutes late.

Entry sessions and how long to stay

There are five sessions a day. Your ticket is for the session you choose, but Klook says you can enter any time before the next session starts.

Evening is when the market looks its best. The Christmas Time Show, a light, video and music show with a blackout at the start, runs on the hour at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm. On Saturdays and Sundays there is also a live stage (jazz and musical numbers) twice an evening, with extra shows on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Is the ₩15,000 Fast Pass worth it?

The Fast Pass costs ₩15,000 and includes two ₩5,000 market coupons, so if you plan to shop, the real cost is closer to ₩5,000. Each coupon works on a purchase of ₩10,000 or more at one brand, and not at every stall: Pop Mart and Uniqlo are excluded, among others. It is sold in limited numbers through the Lotte Department Store mall and Naver Reservation, and last year it sold out in about ten minutes.

Fast Pass holders use a separate priority line, and general admission guests may be held until they are in. A Korean visitor who used it last year says there was still a short wait, just much shorter than the regular line. Worth it on weekend evenings or with kids; skip it on a weekday afternoon.

There is also a Private Lounge styled with Barbour and Lotte Hotel, with Fast Pass entry plus champagne and cake: ₩180,000 for a day slot and ₩220,000 for a night slot.

The two-story carousel: what you need to ride

The carousel is not included with entry. You first spend at least ₩20,000 at market stalls (brands combined), then book a ride at the on-site kiosk with your receipt. One booking covers up to two riders, and children under 7 ride with a guardian. Ride sessions run between 11:30 and 21:30, and last year evening waits were long, so book right after your first purchase.

The carousel does not run in rain or when the temperature is 0°C or lower, and that is not a reason for a refund or ticket exchange.

Food, gifts and pop-ups

Expect British-themed food and gifts, plus collaborations with Korean food brands such as Pajak, Taco Sounds Club and Gordon Ramsay. Pop-ups include a Kancho detective house cafe, a Bellygom take station, and a pop-up for the musical version of Extraordinary Attorney Woo.

Spend ₩50,000 or more and you get a Christmas cracker in the giveaway event. Budget generously: a Korean photographer who went last year says prices inside the market are on the high side.

Getting there and staying warm

Take the subway to Jamsil Station (Lines 2 and 8), which connects to the Lotte World Tower complex; the market is on the outdoor lawn at 300 Olympic-ro. There is no dedicated parking for the market, so public transport is the way to go, especially on weekends. In a map app, search 롯데월드타워 월드파크.

The lawn is open and the wind cuts through, so dress for standing outside in a queue. If the free slots are gone, you can still line up on site, but on-site reservations can close early when it gets crowded.

Book a free evening slot on Klook or in the first minutes of each 2pm round, catch the 6pm light show, and save ₩20,000 of shopping for a carousel ride if it is above freezing.