Seoul Kids Cafe inside the Seoul Botanic Park / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it will hold "Seoul Kids Week" from May 1 through May 7, turning venues across the city into free or discounted play spaces to coincide with Children's Day on May 5.
The weeklong event centers on Seoul's network of publicly operated Seoul Kids Cafes, which have drawn 1.45 million visitors to date.
All Seoul Kids Cafe locations will open on Children's Day despite it being a public holiday, with special programs including magic shows, classical instrument performances and bumper car experiences.
About 60 facilities eligible for free admission under relevant ordinances will be open at no charge on May 5, and a lottery will be held to give an additional 555 visitors free passes at facilities where free admission is not available.
A special edition of "Seoul Kids Cafe Money" — vouchers offering 20 percent discounts at participating private children's cafes — will also be issued for the month of May.
Residents can check which Seoul Kids Cafe locations offer free admission on May 5 through the Uridongne Kium Portal starting April 24.
Coinciding with the opening of the 2026 Seoul International Garden Show at Seoul Forest on May 1, the city will also launch a new outdoor Seoul Kids Cafe called "Chorok Chorok" within Seoul Forest, offering an open-air play space in a woodland setting.
Outdoor play spaces known as "Here and There Kids Cafes," which operate on weekends, will be open free of charge at 11 locations on May 2 and 3. Four hub locations — including Yeouido Hangang Park and Bugaksan Dream Forest — will extend their free operation through May 4 and 5 to remain open throughout the long weekend.
"Visiting Seoul Kids Cafes" pop-up play spaces will also operate May 2 to 4 at major city events, including the Gwanghwamun Family Festival and a children's digital festival at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, with no reservation required.
Source: Korea Times News
