Which bell is struck at midnight during Seoul’s traditional New Year’s Eve ceremony?

Seoul’s traditional New Year’s Eve ceremony centers on the Bosingak Bell, which is struck at midnight in Jongno. The ceremony marks the transition into the new year and is accompanied by a major public gathering in central Seoul.

The current Bosingak bell is housed in a pavilion in Jongno District. The name Bosingak means “Pavilion of Proclaiming the Time,” reflecting the bell’s historical connection with announcing time in the capital. The modern midnight ceremony developed into a major civic event, with public officials and invited participants taking part in the ringing.

The bell is sometimes confused with South Korea’s famous Emille Bell, an eighth-century Silla-period artifact now displayed in Gyeongju. Emille is historically important but is not the bell used for Seoul’s New Year’s Eve countdown. Bosingak is the specific landmark associated with the capital’s ceremony.