From Spring Through Winter: The Ssokssokdeuri Festival – Want to Explore This Neighborhood Playground Together?
Introduction
The excitement that began on the first stage of spring is now slowly drifting toward the breath of winter. Every Saturday afternoon at the National Theater Stage Arts Support Center in Heyri, Paju, small stage lights flick on to wake the quiet village, and the breaths and music that fill the seats gently color the four seasons.
From Spring Through Winter: The Ssokssokdeuri Festival
Table of Contents
- Guide
- Program Information
- Visit (Planned) Impressions
- Recommended Stays
- Restaurants & Cafés
- Nearby Attractions
- Getting There
- Closing
- Photo Snapshots
- Videos
- Related News
Guide
- Festival Name : Ssokssokdeuri Festival
- Dates : April 26, 2025 ~ December 27, 2025
- Hours : 2:00 p.m. show start on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month
- Venue : National Theater Stage Arts Support Center (16 Heyri-ro, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do)
- Age : All ages
- Admission : Free (same-day tickets distributed on a first-come, first-served basis from 12:00 p.m.)
- Hosted by : National Theater of Korea
- Organized by : National Theater Stage Arts Support Center
- Inquiries : 031-870-9110 (National Theater of Korea)
- Map Coordinates : Latitude 37.7833378215, Longitude 126.6946991484
- 12:00 Arrive at the National Theater Stage Arts Support Center, check the on-site information, and receive your free admission ticket.
- 12:30 Look around the exhibition hall and experience spaces in the center to view stage-art props and equipment up close.
- 13:10 Join a backstage tour and stage-artist experience program to explore the space behind the scenes.
- 13:45 Move to “Ssok,” the experiential theater, find your seat, browse the show introduction and program book, and wait for the performance to begin.
- 14:00 Enjoy that season’s main performance, including theater, dance, classical music, traditional performing arts, and more.
- 15:10 After the show, stroll around the outdoor plaza or Heyri Village, share your impressions, and relax at a nearby café or restaurant.
Admission tickets are free and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis from 12:00 p.m. on performance days.
Make time to explore the free exhibition rooms and experience programs inside the Stage Arts Support Center.
Just like the phrase, “Peek deep into the stage and savor the emotions of the performing arts,” the Ssokssokdeuri Festival is a celebration where you can feel the true charm of the performing arts up close, crossing genre boundaries from theater and dance to opera, classical music, musicals, and traditional performance. Held from April to December at the National Theater Stage Arts Support Center in Heyri, Paju, it unfolds in a cultural space dedicated to the performing arts that brings together immersive exhibitions and performance events, as well as the preservation, management, and rental of stage properties.
The festival is divided into four seasons, each built around a new theme, and performances take place at 2:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month in “Ssok,” the indoor experiential theater. In spring and autumn, additional festival performances are held in the outdoor plaza, offering time to breathe with nature. Participatory performances that blur the boundaries between stage and audience, together with backstage tours and stage-artist experiences, deepen the joy of watching by allowing the audience to become part of the performance itself.
Program Information
Season 3 performances begin at 2:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month, and the running time is under 60 minutes. They take place in “Ssok,” the indoor experiential theater, so you can enjoy them comfortably regardless of the weather.
On Saturday, November 8, Youth Education Members of the National Changgeuk Company will present a stage that introduces Korean vocal music in an easy and friendly way. As you listen to the rhythms and key passages of pansori with explanations, you’ll naturally feel the sentiment of this traditional sound.
The November 22 (Sat) performance, “The Enchanted Magic School,” is a work that weaves together the movement and imagination of Movement NA:IN. Its fairy-tale setting and performance offer an enjoyable stage experience for both adults and children.
On Saturday, December 13, Ensemble Ponticello will fill the stage with warm cello melodies. The soft, rich tones of the strings match the winter air beautifully, enhancing the cozy year-end atmosphere.
The December 27 (Sat) performance, “2025, The Last Gift,” is a stage that reflects on the end of the year and the anticipation of a new one. It’s a warm closing to the journey of the Ssokssokdeuri Festival that has continued throughout the year.
“Chair, Table, Chair,” which combines jazz performance with everyday objects, portrays moments of meeting and parting in a playful yet emotional way. It’s fun to watch simple props meet actors’ movements and music to become new stories.
The Heyri Chamber Ensemble’s “Opera on Strings,” Binchae (Jung Chae-bin)’s original songs, and performances by Voice Toy, Boom Beat, Baeuda, POMAS, and others follow. A wide range of genres—including string quartets, popular music, popera, and swing—blend harmoniously, creating a festival atmosphere anyone can enjoy with ease.
Alongside the performances, backstage tours and stage-artist experience programs are offered, letting you see firsthand the unseen side of performances such as lighting, sound, and scene changes. It’s a great opportunity to walk through the backstage area with children and introduce them to careers in the performing arts world.
If it rains, canopies and other measures are used to protect the audience at the outdoor venue. Bringing a raincoat or a waterproof outer layer will make viewing more comfortable.
Performances start at 2:00 p.m., and guidance on movement before and after the show and on admission is relatively well organized. Arriving with extra time to check restroom locations and waiting areas in advance will make things more comfortable.
The Stage Arts Support Center also runs free exhibition rooms and experience programs, so if you have spare time before or after the performance, we recommend filling your day by enjoying the exhibitions and experiences together.
Pack a light raincoat or waterproof outerwear in case of rain.
It’s helpful to keep the time slots before and after the performance in mind when planning backstage tours and experience programs.
Visit (Planned) Impressions
Today is November 30, 2025. Since the Ssokssokdeuri Festival runs from April 26 to December 27, 2025, we are currently in the middle of the festival period. I’ve already seen several performances and come home full of emotion, and the warmth and sounds of the venue still seem to linger in my ears.
The Ssokssokdeuri Festival I attended this time was a feast of performing arts held at “Ssok,” an experiential theater inside the National Theater Stage Arts Support Center in Heyri, Paju. Once the performance began, there were moments when the lights gently wrapped around the audience, and the timbre of the instruments or the actors’ quiet breaths spread softly through the air. The melodies of the classical string quartet unfolded clear as the autumn air, and the harmonies of the popera group brought to mind the warmth of the word “romance.”
It wasn’t just indoor performances; in spring and autumn there were festival shows in the outdoor plaza as well. Outside, it felt as if the trees, sunlight, and wind were breathing together with the performance, and whenever a puppet show or magic act began, children’s laughter rippled out beneath the tree shadows. In particular, at the spring outdoor festival “Into the Fairytale, SSOK!”, cloud-soft storytelling plays intertwined with colorful experience zones, bringing not only visual delight but also vivid, full-body enjoyment.
Admission was free, and indoor performances were held at 2:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. In the final season there were performances with a hint of Christmas mood, and stages with titles like “Ponticello’s Cellomance” and “Theater Company Bau’s The Last Gift” that made my heart flutter just by reading them. Stepping into the theater felt like walking into a cozy thicket; the hushed but expectant whispers, the globes of light from behind the curtains, and the soft voices and resonant music from the stage all blended together to stir a small echo within me.
The festival went beyond simply watching performances, narrowing the distance between art and myself through backstage tours and artist experience programs that allowed me to feel the world behind the stage as well. As the end of the year approaches and I think about the final shows of the Ssokssokdeuri Festival soon to come, my heart starts to flutter again. For those who haven’t been yet, I’d gently encourage you to step into these warm year-end performances at least once.
Recommended Stays
If you want to make the most of the festival for a full day and also explore Heyri and the wider Paju area, it’s more relaxed to stay within 10 km by car. The accommodations below offer good access to the Stage Arts Support Center, making them convenient for minimizing travel before and after performances.
34 Seongdong-ro, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
Convenient car access near Heyri
A comfortable distance to drop off your bags and take a short rest before or after the show; we recommend checking parking and room availability in advance.
Distance: 0.9 km
20-37 Seongdong-ro, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
A value-for-money hotel close to Heyri and Tanhyeon
Its location makes it easy to head straight back and rest after the performance; we recommend checking room types and parking availability in advance.
Distance: 1.0 km
21 Jangneung-ro 141beon-gil, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
A gallery-style space with an artistic ambiance
Be sure to check the gallery schedule and availability before your visit.
Distance: 2.2 km
39-45 LCD-ro 241beon-gil, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
A suburban Paju hotel suitable for car travel
Better suited for those traveling by private car than by public transport, and good to pair with nearby industrial complex or sightseeing plans.
Distance: 6.3 km
39-35 LCD-ro 241beon-gil, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
A business-style hotel convenient for travel toward Jayu-ro and Munsan
A good location for connecting your post-show plans to Munsan, downtown Paju, and more.
Distance: 6.4 km
41-13 Geumjeong 14-gil, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do (Adong-dong)
A lodging-focused hotel in Paju’s urban center
If you plan to explore the Paju area over multiple nights, this is a good choice with convenient access to the city.
Distance: 7.7 km
47 Bangchon-ro 1294beon-gil, Munsan-eup, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
A lodging space where you can feel the charm of a traditional hanok
A fitting choice if you’d like to end your day in a quiet hanok after the show.
Distance: 8.3 km
Nearby lodgings can book out quickly on weekends and during peak season, so advance reservations are recommended.
Restaurants & Cafés
Before and after visiting the Ssokssokdeuri Festival, enjoying restaurants and cafés around Tanhyeon and Paju will make your day feel more relaxed and complete. Taking into account distance and travel routes from the venue, we’ve selected spots within 10 km that are easy to drop by.
885-94 Pyeonghwa-ro, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
A Korean restaurant known for its simple noodle and naengmyeon dishes
Ideal for a light meal before the performance; on weekend lunchtimes, it’s best to visit with some extra time.
Distance: 0.7 km
31 Galhyeon-ro, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
A cozy spot for a simple bowl of noodles to fill you up
With its unburdening menu, it’s well suited for a quick meal before or after outdoor festival events.
Distance: 2.6 km
143 Jimok-ro, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do (Sinchon-dong)
An atmospheric café great for brunch and coffee
A nice place to step a bit away from Heyri after the show and have a quiet conversation.
Distance: 5.9 km
137 Jimok-ro, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do (Sinchon-dong)
A space offering a variety of donuts and desserts
Perfect for sharing sweet treats with children after the show.
Distance: 5.9 km
138 Jimok-ro, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do (Munbal-dong)
A good place for a light meal of mild buckwheat noodles
Great for a cool bowl of noodles after a summer performance.
Distance: 6.0 km
732 LG-ro, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
A haejangguk place ideal for hearty soup dishes
A good spot for a warm meal after late autumn or winter shows.
Distance: 7.0 km
717 Tongil-ro, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
A Korean restaurant where you can try tofu dishes made with Jangdan soybeans
If you want a neat meal using local specialties, it’s a great place to include in your course.
Distance: 8.5 km
1366-28 Bangchon-ro, Munsan-eup, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
A comfortable place for a home-style Korean meal
A good option for families with children who want a filling, homely meal together.
Distance: 8.7 km
Nearby Attractions
If it feels like a shame to go straight home after the performance, we recommend combining your visit with a small-scale sightseeing course around Heyri Art Village and downtown Paju. They’re within about 10 km by car, so you can comfortably cover them in a single day.
93-75 Heyri Maeul-gil, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
An interactive animal theme park that’s great with kids
You can drop by briefly before or after the festival, making it easy to add to family itineraries.
Distance: 0.9 km
Beopheung-ri, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
A gentle forest path for enjoying sunset walks
Ideal for a light stroll before the show or as a sunset walk after the performance.
Distance: 1.0 km
69 Saeori-ro, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
A dinosaur-themed exhibition and experience space
If you’re with kids who love dinosaurs, it pairs well with the performance on the same day.
Distance: 1.2 km
478-40 Paju-ro, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do (Mokdong-dong)
A space for children’s astronomy experiences and stargazing
If the evening program times work out, you could spend the day watching a performance and the night gazing at the stars.
Distance: 6.7 km
364 Yongsanggol-gil, Wollong-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
An urban park with broad lawns and walking paths
A pleasant place for a light picnic or walk before or after the performance.
Distance: 6.8 km
6 Sannam-ro, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do (Sannam-dong)
A place to enjoy farm experiences and nature together
If you’re planning a hands-on itinerary with children, it pairs well as part of a full-day course alongside the festival.
Distance: 8.8 km
500 Waseok Sunhwan-ro, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do (Wadong-dong)
A family-friendly space with various play facilities
A great course for kids to burn off energy before or after the show.
Distance: 8.8 km
Jeollyu-ri, Haseong-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do
An outing spot where you can enjoy both river and port scenery
If you’re traveling by car, it’s a nice place to stop around sunset to take in the relaxed views.
Distance: 9.9 km
If you’re traveling with children, consider planning a full-day course with Safari Experience Theme Park and Jurarrium.
Getting There
Public Transportation — From Munsan Station, take a bus or taxi toward Heyri in Tanhyeon-myeon to reach the National Theater Stage Arts Support Center. Be sure to check the latest information on bus routes and travel times before your visit.
By Car — Use Jayu-ro or Gyeongui-ro and head toward Heyri in Tanhyeon-myeon. For navigation, search for “National Theater Stage Arts Support Center” or “Ssokssokdeuri Festival.” It’s best to confirm parking availability and parking locations around the venue in advance.
Closing
The Ssokssokdeuri Festival is a performing arts festival that slowly moves through the seasons from spring to winter in the same place, embracing theater and music, dance and traditional performance all at once. In the cozy space of the National Theater Stage Arts Support Center in Heyri, Paju, the distance between stage and audience grows closer, and the audience moves beyond mere “spectators” to become protagonists who complete the performance together.
As you follow the free Saturday afternoon shows, backstage tours, and experience programs at an unhurried pace, it feels as if a small comma is placed in the rhythm of everyday life. Before this winter ends—or before the next season begins—it might be nice to quietly gift yourself a memorable performance.
Photo Snapshots
Videos
