The three-day festival runs Friday through Sunday at the Seoul Amsa-dong Historic Site and Amsa History Park, featuring an opening ceremony, drone show, performances, prehistoric experiences, a music festival and a fireworks show.
Gangdong-gu will hold the 31st Gangdong Prehistoric Culture Festival from Friday through Sunday at the Seoul Amsa-dong Historic Site (875 Olympic-ro) and the surrounding Amsa History Park.
Now in its 31st year, the festival carries the theme "Amsa, Where Seoul Began" and unfolds across the Amsa-dong Historic Site as a cultural celebration where past, present and future converge. The program spans hands-on prehistoric history experiences, performances created together by residents and artists, and a nighttime light festival — with something for visitors of all ages.
The opening day on Friday kicks off with a series of programs heralding "the beginning of Seoul." A traditional street parade leads into a Namsadang folk performance, a community center program competition and a lantern-lighting ceremony, building the festive atmosphere ahead of the main event.
The opening ceremony follows on the main stage in the afternoon. After the official declaration, a drone show lights up the night sky, and a celebratory concert featuring Space A, Wax and Seol Undo closes out the first day in style.
The second day centers on the community, with residents and local artists taking the spotlight.
Saturday's lineup includes a performance by the Gangdong District Arts Ensemble and a staging of Bawuijeol Village Hosang Nori, a Seoul intangible cultural heritage. Also on the bill are a festival for families with disabilities and a lifelong-learning club showcase where residents display their talents and passions.
At the forest stage inside the historic site, archaeologist Kwak Min-su and webtoon artist Lee Jong-beom will join a prehistoric talk concert — "Prehistoric Times: Curious Stories (WHY?)" — offering an accessible and engaging look at prehistoric culture and archaeology.
In the evening, the main stage hosts a prehistoric singing contest, while the forest stage inside the site comes alive with the Electric Forest Music Festival, turning up the energy for the night.
The final day brings a grand finale to close out the three-day celebration.
On Sunday, the forest stage inside the historic site hosts "Lee Se-dol Talk Concert: The Divine Move," part of a traveling culture concert series, where legendary Go player Lee Se-dol 9-dan shares stories about the game and life.
The main stage then hosts the Prehistoric Rock Festival, delivering high-energy music to the crowd. The closing ceremony and farewell concert feature Sin Hyo-beom, So Chan-whee and Nam Jin, who will bring the three-day festival to a roaring peak. A spectacular fireworks show caps the night, marking the grand finale of the 31st Gangdong Prehistoric Culture Festival.
Throughout the festival, hands-on and standing programs let visitors experience prehistoric life with all five senses.
The Time Slip Hand Crafted Market showcases works that reinterpret 6,000-year-old prehistoric craftsmanship through a modern lens, with related hands-on activities available.
A specially designed space modeled on a prehistoric settlement offers a "prehistoric barbecue" experience, giving visitors a vivid taste of life and culture from that era.
Families and children can also enjoy a Neolithic archaeology school, a prehistoric water-gun hunt, a wishing well, a pit-house building activity and a prehistoric recycling costume workshop, among other programs.
After dark, the festival takes on a special glow with a dedicated nighttime light program.
Each evening from Friday through Sunday, a night light festival and media facade run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Amsa-dong Historic Site.
An immersive night walk traces the site's trails, telling four stories through light and giving visitors a vivid after-dark encounter with the prehistoric world.
A media art performance unique to the festival combines projected video on the museum's exterior wall with live performances by actors, creating a striking experience where prehistoric time and contemporary culture meet.
"The 31st Gangdong Prehistoric Culture Festival is a celebration where history, culture and art come together at the Seoul Amsa-dong Historic Site, which holds the very origins of Seoul from 6,000 years ago," Gangdong-gu District Mayor Lee Su-hee said. "I hope you will visit with family, friends and neighbors, feel the history and charm of Gangdong, and create special memories."
The festival grounds are accessible by public transit or vehicle, though organizers recommend public transit as traffic congestion is expected during the festival period.
From Friday through Sunday, vehicle traffic will be completely restricted on the stretch between Seonsa Elementary School and Seowon Village, with partial restrictions on Olympic-ro 108-gil. Vehicles heading toward Seowon Village must detour via Seoul Dulle-gil Course 6. The Gangdong 02 village bus will operate on a detour route, and a shuttle service will run between Seowon Village and Amsa Station for the convenience of nearby residents.
Visitors arriving by car may use temporary parking lots near Seonsa Elementary School, Seonsa High School, Sinam Middle School and the area around 196-2 Amsa-dong. Parking guidance is available at traffic control posts near the festival grounds.
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