From Trendy Night Markets to Outdoor Autumn Movies... Seoul Night Courses Tailored to MZ Generation Tastes [The Art of Benefits]

Recruiting Participants for 'Excitement in Seoul, Night Market Edition'

'Autumn Garden Theater' at Seoul Forest Family Yard

Wrist Doctor 9988 'Nighttime Walk' Challenge

Editor's Note'The more you know, the more you see—and the more you save.' Although we live in an era overflowing with information, there are still so many things we miss simply because we don’t know about them. [The Art of Benefits] brings you useful news that can help you save money in your daily life—but could put you at a disadvantage if you remain unaware.

Autumn, often called the "season of farewells," is also known as the "season of dating." With the oppressive heat finally subsiding, the cool weather makes it the perfect time to take a stroll or admire the colorful fall foliage. In fact, more than 9 out of 10 unmarried men and women chose autumn as the "best season for romance."

According to a survey conducted by Duo, a matchmaking company, of 1,000 unmarried individuals aged 25 to 39, 93% of respondents considered autumn to be the best season for dating. The top advantage of dating in autumn, selected by 80% of respondents, was the pleasant temperature. Among preferred outdoor activities, a stroll at a fall foliage spot topped the list at 29%, followed by camping (21%) and picnics (13%).

62% of respondents also said that their desire to date increases in autumn compared to usual. By gender, 65% of men and 58% of women said they are more likely to want to date during this season. If you’re planning a date or looking for someone to spend autumn with, it’s worth checking out some of the programs taking place across Seoul.

'Excitement in Seoul, Han River Bus Edition' Event. Seoul City

A Romantic Autumn Night: Will Sparks Fly at the Night Market?... Recruiting 100 Participants for 'Seoulting'

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will host "Excitement in Seoul, Night Market Edition," a singles meetup program, on October 23 at Sangbong Food Alley in Jungnang-gu, Seoul.

The city plans to hold activities such as restaurant hopping, 2-on-2 outdoor dining dates, and alley stroll dates at the venue.

Participant recruitment is open for 100 people—50 men and 50 women. Eligible applicants are unmarried men and women ages 25 to 45 registered as residents of Seoul who are engaged in economic activity, such as salaried employees, sole proprietors, or freelancers.

Applications are accepted until 5 p.m. on October 14. You can sign up via the Naver form found on the Tansaeng Childcare Portal or through the event poster’s QR code. To apply, you’ll need to submit a certificate of residence, a detailed certificate of marital status, and one of the following: certificate of employment, proof of business registration, or certificate of income amount.

Participants will be selected through a random lottery and qualification check, with results to be individually notified by October 19.

At the previous "Excitement in Seoul, Hangang Bus Edition" event, 2,370 people applied for just 100 spots, resulting in a competition ratio of 23.7 to 1.

Meanwhile, night markets have recently gained significant popularity among people in their 20s and 30s. Lining up before sunset to get a seat at famous night market eateries has become commonplace. As night markets emerge as a top outdoor activity this autumn, there is growing interest in this event, where you can enjoy the autumn night atmosphere and possibly meet someone new.

The 'Autumn Night Garden Theater' held at Seoul Forest Family Yard. Seoul City

Spread Out Your Picnic Mat for a Movie Night at Seoul Forest... 'Autumn Night Garden Theater'

The "Autumn Night Garden Theater" is held every Friday or Saturday at the Seoul Forest Family Yard. This is part of the garden culture program for the 2026 Seoul International Garden Show, hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Films centered around themes of nature, family, and emotion are screened.

No advance reservations are required; you can simply drop by and participate for free. Just bring your own picnic mat and enjoy the movie from wherever you like.

The films being screened include "Kung Fu Panda 3" (October 2), followed by "Life Is Beautiful" (October 10), "Wonka" (October 16), and "Secret That Cannot Be Told" (October 24).

The garden theater operates once a week on Fridays or Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. However, because it’s an outdoor event, it’s best to check the Seoul City website for weather conditions, event updates, and screening information on the day of your planned visit.

Screenings by date at the 'Autumn Night Garden Theater'. Seoul City

Walk Seoul at Night and Earn Points... 'Wrist Doctor 9988' Challenge

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has been running the "Wrist Doctor 9988 Night Walk Triple Challenge" since October 1.

This challenge is designed to allow participants to earn points by walking with family, partners, or friends along Seoul’s nighttime landmarks and walking trails. There are three missions: “Landmark Visit,” where you visit different night attractions in Seoul; “Walking Together,” where you walk with family, partners, or friends; and “Challenge Task,” where you complete all major nighttime walking courses in Seoul’s 25 districts.

For “Landmark Visit,” you can earn 1,000 points by visiting three out of 14 designated night hotspots between 6 p.m. and midnight each day and verifying your visit through GPS. Hotspots include Kondae Food Street, Sadang Olag Dalbit Night Market, Sangbong Food Alley, Namsan Seoul Tower, Some Sevit, and Yongsan’s Yongridan-gil, among others.

The photo is not directly related to the specific content of the article. Pexels

For “Walking Together,” groups of two or more people who walk 3,000 steps together during the same time period can each earn 500 points. There’s no need to follow a specific course—you can participate wherever you like, such as local walking trails, Hangang parks, or neighborhood alleys.

There is also a “Challenge Task” to complete all 25 districts’ main walking courses, each about 2–4 kilometers in length. Once you complete all 25, you’ll receive 10,000 points.

To participate, citizens can select their preferred mission through the challenge page on the Wrist Doctor 9988 app. Points for “Landmark Visit” and “Walking Together” are awarded to up to 10,000 participants each, and for the “Challenge Task” up to 1,000 participants. The event runs from October 1 until allocated funds run out. Accumulated points can be converted to Seoul Pay at a rate of 1 point per 1 won, and used like cash at over 280,000 places including convenience stores, restaurants, and pharmacies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.