Seoul Wellness Travel Week 2026 And The Seoul Wellness 100

Seoul Wellness Travel Week runs from 29 October to 4 November 2026, based around Bongeunsa temple and Gangnam. It showcases the Seoul Wellness 100, a list of 100 places the city picked on 1 September 2026 for rest, food and style: temple meditation, parks, Korean medicine, healthy restaurants, spas and music venues. On 5 October the detailed programme was still marked “coming soon”.

So here’s your situation: you land in late October, the ginkgo trees are turning, and you want something slower than shopping and palaces. This list is the city telling you where to go. Here’s how to use it without waiting for festival banners.

Sunbae Says: Don’t wait for the festival tents. Most of the 100 places are open all year, so pick three, pin them on Naver Map, and treat Travel Week as a bonus if its programme suits you.

What The Seoul Wellness 100 Actually Is

The Seoul Metropolitan Government ran an open call plus expert nominations, received 217 candidates and chose 100 after written reviews and site visits by a 14 member panel, chaired for a second year by Han Yi-kyoung of Polaris Advisor, The Korea Times reports.

The list splits into three groups, named with three short Korean words:

Category	Korean	Places	What’s In It
Rest	쉼	52	Meditation, nature healing, Korean medicine, places to stay
Taste	맛	17	Healthy food and dining
Style	멋	31	Beauty and spa, culture and arts venues

The city’s pitch is “urban wellness”: you don’t need a mountain resort, you need two hours between palaces and shopping to reset. The official Seoul Wellness Travel site already has the list with a map and search, and Korean district notices say the full programme follows there and on its Instagram from opening day, 29 October.

What We Know About Travel Week

Confirmed: the dates (29 October to 4 November), three signature venues (Bongeunsa, Pilgyeongjae and Boston Chamber Salon) plus the wider Gangnam area, and a programme described as workshops, pop up performances and itineraries built for foreign visitors. Korean coverage adds night temple meditation at Bongeunsa, a hanji (Korean paper) exhibition at Pilgyeongjae and music at Boston Chamber. The organiser’s contact is 02-2231-2011 or sbtw2026.official@gmail.com.

Not yet published (5 Oct): session times, prices and how to register.

The early bird: Buddhist broadcaster BBS reported on 18 Sep that Bongeunsa would run night meditation, yoga and walking sessions with experts on 24 and 25 October, just before the week. It also said Jogyesa’s templestay made the list. Booking details weren’t given, so ask the temple (+82-2-3218-4800).

Heads Up: Some Korean articles and older listings still say “Seoul Beauty Travel Week”, last year’s name (it ran 30 Oct to 5 Nov 2025 at Namsangol Hanok Village). The 2026 event is the Wellness Travel Week in Gangnam. If a page sends you to Namsangol, it’s out of date.

I’ll add the programme to the What’s On calendar once times are out.

Pick Your Wellness Day

Here are four Wellness 100 picks you can do this month without waiting for the programme, with my take.

Option	Best For	Cost	Time	My Take
Bongeunsa at dusk, Gangnam	First timers, one free evening	Free (donations welcome)	1 to 2 hours	My pick. Temple calm with towers behind it, on Line 9 (gold)
Herbal foot bath, Seoul Korean medicine centre	A rainy afternoon, curious minds	8,000 won	About 90 min	The best value wellness hour in Seoul
North Seoul Dream Forest	Solo walkers, autumn colour	Free	Half a day	Big, quiet and newly spruced up
Pilgyeongjae lunch or dinner	One splurge	Royal court menus, check when booking	2 hours	Book ahead; a sit down occasion, not a snack stop

Bongeunsa Temple (봉은사)

Founded in 794 and across the road from COEX, Bongeunsa is the face of the Rest list. Visit Seoul lists free entry and gives Bongeunsa Station (Line 9, gold), Exit 1, about 135 m. Hours shift with services, so call before an evening visit. The temple also runs templestays with dawn service, Seon meditation and tea; my templestay guide explains how they work.

[AFFILIATE: Klook temple meditation or tea ceremony experiences]

Seoul Korean Medicine Promotion Center (서울한방진흥센터)

Run by Dongdaemun-gu in the Seoul Yangnyeongsi herbal market, it made the 100 for a second year. Its herbal foot bath programme (in Korean) pairs a herbal foot bath with a Korean medicine massage session, about 90 minutes for 8,000 won, museum entry included. Individuals buy tickets at the 1F desk on the day, first come, up to 10 per slot; groups of 10 or more book ahead for weekdays. Open 10am to 6pm to October and 10am to 5pm from November. Take Jegi-dong Station (Line 1, dark blue), Exit 2, about 400 m through the herb market. This is a cultural experience, not a medical treatment.

North Seoul Dream Forest (북서울꿈의숲)

A huge Gangbuk park with a free observatory, refreshed this summer with a 500 m forest deck path. From Miasageori Station (Line 4, sky blue), Exit 3, take bus 1124, or from Dolgoji Station (Line 6, brown), Exit 3, change to a bus; Naver Map shows the live route.

Pilgyeongjae (필경재)

A 500 year old hanok serving royal court style cuisine. Korean listings give Suseo Station (Line 3 orange, Suin-Bundang Line yellow), Exit 1, about 600 m, open daily from noon with an afternoon break; book by phone (02-445-2115).

Also on the list: Gangbuk-gu’s picks include Hwagyesa Templestay (Hwagye Station on the Ui Sinseol LRT, Exit 2, about 10 minutes uphill), The Forest Academy House, Anto, Haro Spa and Jaeganjeong.

What Locals Know

“Wellness” in Korea leans on Buddhism and herbs. The temples (Bongeunsa, Jogyesa, Hwagyesa) and the Yangnyeongsi herb market carry this list, and the city’s tourism industry chief told BBS the temples showcase a kind of urban healing that appeals strongly to foreigners. Expect sitting still, walking slowly and drinking something bitter.

The herb market is a sight in itself. Around Jegi-dong Station Exit 2 you smell the market before you see it: sacks of dried roots, ginseng stalls and old pharmacies. Go on a weekday morning, before the foot bath, and wander.

Medical and beauty picks are tourism picks. Anything clinical on the list is a tourism selection, not a medical endorsement. Read my guides to health checkups for foreigners and choosing a skin clinic safely before you book anything with a needle or a laser.

[SUNBAE FIELD TEST: whether the weekend foot bath slots at the Seoul Korean medicine centre sell out before noon, and what Bongeunsa feels like at 6pm on a weekday]

Pick Your Version

If It’s Your First Time. Keep it central. I’d do Bongeunsa in the late afternoon, stay for dusk, then eat in Samseong. Temple, skyline and zero planning stress, on any day of your trip.

If You’re Travelling Solo. The Wellness 100 is quietly great alone, because most of it is built for one person sitting still. I’d take the foot bath on a weekday and spend a morning in North Seoul Dream Forest. More ideas in my solo Seoul guide.

If You’re Here For A Reset. Make Travel Week the middle of a slow week rather than the reason for it: a temple night, an evening from my jjimjilbang guide, a long park walk and one good meal from the Taste list. The rest of The Reset collects everything I’ve written on slowing down in Seoul.

Sunbae’s Picks

My pick for one evening: Bongeunsa at dusk. Line 9 to the door, and the towers across the road are the whole idea of “urban wellness” in one view.

My pick for a rainy day: the herbal foot bath in Jegi-dong. Eight thousand won, warm feet, a free museum and the herb market outside.

If I had one splurge, I’d put it into a meal at Pilgyeongjae rather than a spa package. You’ll remember the room and the food.

I’d skip planning your whole trip around Travel Week before the programme is out. The places are the value; the festival is the garnish.

[AFFILIATE: Agoda hotels near Bongeunsa and COEX in Gangnam]

Offers Worth Knowing

The K-Beauty Expo Korea runs 15 to 17 October, 10am to 5pm, at KINTEX Exhibition Center 1 in Goyang. Entry is free if you preregister online by 5:59pm on 14 October; walk ins pay 20,000 won, with 5,000 won off on a foreign passport. Take GTX-A (purple) to KINTEX Station, Exit 1, about 5 minutes on foot. For getting around Seoul, short term tourist passes of 1 to 7 days continue; see which transit card tourists need.

Heads Up: The expo’s free preregistration closes at 5:59pm on Wednesday 14 October, two days after this guide goes live. Miss it and you pay at the door.

What’s Changing In 2026

Wellness is now a spending story. International wellness tourists spend about US$1,601 per trip, roughly 35% more than typical leisure visitors, and the global wellness economy is projected to grow from US$6.7 trillion to nearly US$10 trillion by 2029, according to The Korea Times. That’s why Seoul renamed its beauty week a wellness week. My read: more English programmes at temples, spas and herb centres over the next year.

More visitors, more pressure on the famous spots. Korea welcomed about 18.94 million foreign visitors in 2025, 8.2% above 2019, with US arrivals up 42% on 2019, per Yanolja Research. The headline palaces will be busy; the Gangbuk and Jegi-dong picks are where you’ll find breathing room.

Build A Wellness Week Around It

Late October to early November is also Seoul’s best colour. The Korea Forest Service forecasts a national ginkgo peak around 30 October and maple around 31 October, Seoul Shinmun reports (in Korean), so the city should be gold during Travel Week. Pair a temple evening with one of my ginkgo walks, check my Seoul fall foliage guide, and use my November guide for weather and packing.

Other dates in the same window:

• K-Beauty Expo Korea, 15 to 17 October, KINTEX.
• Seoul Silver Grass Festival, 17 to 23 October, 10am to 9pm, Haneul Park. My Silver Grass Festival guide has the climb.
• Bongeunsa night meditation and yoga, 24 and 25 October, per BBS.
• JTBC Seoul Marathon, Sunday 1 November, at Sangam World Cup Stadium, per the organiser (in Korean). Expect road closures that morning.

Worth It / Skip It

Worth It: An evening at Bongeunsa, then dinner in Samseong. Free, easy on the subway, and calming in the middle of Gangnam.

Worth It: The herbal foot bath. Cheap, unusual, and a side of Seoul most first timers never see.

Skip It: Booking flights around Travel Week itself before the programme is published. The 100 places are open whether the festival tents are up or not.

Word Of The Stop

쉼 (swim, said close to “shweem”): rest, a pause. It’s the name of the biggest Wellness 100 category. You’ll see it on café signs too, usually meaning “come sit down and do nothing”. Good advice.

A Quick Health Note

This is general information, not medical advice. If you plan any treatment during your trip, the government run Medical Korea Support Center answers on 1577-7129 (+82-2-1577-7129 from abroad). Medical Korea lets you check registered hospitals and verify registered medical facilitators. We never take commissions from clinics or hospitals.

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Map And Directions

Frequently Asked Questions

When Is Seoul Wellness Travel Week 2026?

From 29 October to 4 November 2026, centred on Bongeunsa, Pilgyeongjae, Boston Chamber Salon and Gangnam. Session times weren’t published on 5 October, so check seoulwellnesstravel.com closer to the date.

What Is The Seoul Wellness 100?

A list of 100 wellness places across Seoul chosen by the city in 2026 from 217 nominations: 52 for rest, 17 for food and 31 for beauty, spa and culture. The official site has a map.

Is Seoul Wellness Travel Week Free?

Prices weren’t published by 5 October. Many of the listed places are free or cheap anyway: Bongeunsa is free to enter and the herbal foot bath is 8,000 won.

Can Foreigners Join The Programmes?

Yes. The city says the week includes itineraries tailored to foreign visitors, and the official site has an English version. Registration hadn’t opened when I checked.

Next Stop

• Templestay In Seoul: A First Timer’s Guide For Late Autumn And Winter: the most practical way to try the Rest list.
• Jjimjilbang For First Timers: The Korean Spa Rules Nobody Explains: the everyday Korean reset, for about the price of lunch.
• Seven Golden Ginkgo Walks In Seoul: timed perfectly for Travel Week.

Resources

• Seoul Wellness Travel: the Wellness 100 map and Travel Week programme; 02-2231-2011.
• Bongeunsa: +82-2-3218-4800 for service times and programmes.
• Seoul Korean Medicine Promotion Center: 02-969-9241.
• 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: English help and interpretation, 24 hours.
• Medical Korea Support Center: 1577-7129, or +82-2-1577-7129 from abroad.
• NAVER Map: live bus routes to North Seoul Dream Forest and Hwagyesa.

How I Checked This

On 5 Oct 2026 I rechecked the official Seoul Wellness Travel site, list figures in The Korea Times, Korean coverage from Aju News, Newspim, BBS and district notices, Bongeunsa on Visit Seoul, the foot bath on Dongdaemun-gu’s own page, the expo on its organiser’s page and the marathon on JTBC’s site. Session times, prices and registration for Travel Week were still unpublished, and I couldn’t confirm booking details for Bongeunsa’s 24 and 25 October sessions.

Sources

• Seoul Wellness Travel Week official site
• The Korea Times: Seoul redefines urban wellness with 100 top spots (1 Sep 2026)
• Aju News: Seoul Wellness 100 selected (1 Sep 2026, Korean)
• Newspim: Seoul Wellness 100 and Travel Week (31 Aug 2026, Korean)
• BBS: Bongeunsa night meditation, yoga and walking on 24 and 25 Oct (18 Sep 2026, Korean)
• BBS: Buddhist culture and the wellness industry (11 Sep 2026, Korean)
• Web Economy: Gangbuk-gu’s Wellness 100 picks (Korean)
• Visit Seoul: Bongeunsa Temple
• Dongdaemun-gu: Seoul Korean Medicine Promotion Center herbal foot bath (Korean)
• NOL World: 2025 Seoul Beauty Travel Week
• Seoul Shinmun: Korea Forest Service 2026 foliage forecast (Korean)
• Goyang Convention: K-Beauty Expo 2026
• JTBC Seoul Marathon (Korean)
• Yanolja Research: Korea’s 2025 inbound tourism
• Seoul Metropolitan Government: Climate Card FAQ on short term passes (Korean)
• Medical Korea

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Written by your sunbae. 24 years living in Seoul, former Korean TV and radio presenter, university professor, and two decades behind the decks in the city’s clubs. Every fact here is checked against official sources and, wherever possible, on the ground.

Beep Check: verified 5 Oct 2026. Rules, prices and dates change; confirm with the official source before you travel.

Seoul Sunbae never takes commissions from clinics or hospitals. This is general information, not medical advice.