Bosingak hosts Seoul's traditional New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony.
Bosingak is a bell pavilion on Jongno in central Seoul, South Korea. Its name is commonly translated as “bell pavilion,” and the structure houses a large traditional bell associated with the city's historic timekeeping system. On New Year's Eve, Seoul holds a major public ceremony there, with the bell rung 33 times at midnight.
The ceremony is one of South Korea's most recognizable New Year's traditions. Crowds gather in central Seoul, while the event is also broadcast and accompanied by performances and official proceedings. The 33 strikes are not simply a countdown from 33 to zero; they reflect historical and symbolic associations connected with the ceremony.
Bosingak is sometimes confused with Seoul's royal palaces or with N Seoul Tower, both prominent city landmarks. Those sites may appear in holiday coverage, but the named bell-ringing venue is Bosingak.