The Royal Procession of King Sejong Returns to Seoul for 2025 Celebration
The bustling streets of Insa-dong in Seoul were transformed into a vibrant celebration of Korean heritage on June 10 as the King Sejong National Commission held the ‘2025 Here Comes King Sejong! Royal Procession’ (세종대왕 납시오~ 어가행렬) to commemorate the 628th birthday of the revered Korean monarch, King Sejong the Great.
Officially recognized for the first time as the national holiday King Sejong’s Birthday (세종대왕 나신 날), this year’s elaborate event marks a historic milestone. The celebration was organized by the King Sejong National Commission, chaired by Lee Yoon-tae, in collaboration with the Brand Value Institute.
The highlight of the festivities was a royal reenactment processional march through the historic Jongno and Insa-dong districts, featuring actor Danny Lee portraying King Sejong and beauty influencer and ‘I Am Solo’ Season 16 cast member Lee Na-ra (‘Ok-soon’) as Queen Soheon. Attendees were also treated to dynamic performances by the traditional marching band, the Chwita-dae, vibrant Hanbok parades, reenactments of the royal scholar examination, and a festive banquet in honor of the monarch’s contributions.
“With the revised regulation by South Korea’s Ministry of the Interior and Safety on November 4th, King Sejong’s birthday has officially been designated as a national holiday,” said Chairman Lee Yoon-tae. “It’s deeply meaningful that this year’s celebration inaugurates that designation. We look forward to growing this into a signature annual event that illuminates the legacy of King Sejong and the excellence of the Korean language.”
The event not only honored the great innovations introduced under King Sejong’s rule—most notably the invention of Hangul, the Korean alphabet—but also reaffirmed cultural pride through immersive visual and performance art that drew locals and tourists alike.
