My friend puts together this great weekly list of low cost events in and around Seoul.

Korean Professional Men’s Basketball

Price: 8 - 22,000 won

SK Knights vs. KCC Egis
Game will air on SBS-ESPN
Where: Jamsil Student Basketball Stadium, Jamsil Sports Complex
When: Saturday 2 PM, 5 Jan

Samsung Thunders vs. KT-Land Elephants
Game will air on KBS Sports
Where: Jamsil Basketball Stadium, Jamsil Sports Complex
When: Saturday 4 PM, 5 Jan

Anyang KGC vs. KT Sonic boom
Game will air on OBS
Where: Anyang Basketball Stadium, Anyang, Seoul
Dark Blue Line #1 from Yongsan Station/I-Park Mall #135 to Anyang Station #P147
When: Saturday 4 PM, 5 Jan

Music

2013 New Year’s Symphony Concert
by the Symphony Orchestra
Where: Theater Yong, National Museum of Korea
Outside USAG-Y S.Post 24-hr visitor gate and turn left.
When: Saturday 5 Jan; Call 120 or 1330 for concert start time
Price: FREE
Call 1544-5955 to reserve tickets. For assistance reserving tickets call 1330 or 120

New Year Gala Concert
by the Conductor Zubin Mehta and Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Where: Main Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center
When: Saturday and Sunday 7 PM, 5-6 Jan
Price: 50 - 380,000 won with discounts available

Saturday Afternoon Chamber Music
Easy Classics for Beginners
by the Members of the KT Chamber Orchestra
When: Saturday 4 PM, 5 Jan
Where: KT Chamber Hall
Price: 10,000 won (Discounts available)

Korean Entertainment

Traditional Korean Music and Dance Performances
by the Korean Traditional Dance Company
Where: National Folk Museum
Behind Gyeongbok Palace near U.S. Embassy and Gwanghwamun Plaza
When: Saturday 3 PM, 5 Jan
Price: FREE

Traditional Dancers, Singers and Musicians in a Traditional Korean Village Setting
Where: Namsangol Han Ok Village
This Folk Village is used as backdrop in Korean films and TV dramas.
Take Blue Subway Line #4 from Samgakji Station #428 or Inchon Station #430 to Chungmuro Station#423. Go out exit 4 and follow the signs.
Price: FREE

Lunch Buffets with 60 different traditional Korean dishes
Where: Korea House
The Korea House has traditional dance performances and choice lunch buffets.
Take Blue Subway Line #4 from Samgakji Station #428 or Inchon Station #430 to Chungmuro Station#423. Go out exit 4 and follow the signs.
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 12:00 PM
Price: Lunch Buffet - 32,000 won adults, 19,000 won 5 to 13 years old
Set menu lunch special 18,000 won

Tour of Korean Movie Studio & Sets
includes contemporary and traditional locations
by the Namyangju KOFIC Movie Studios
Where: Yangsuri, Gyeonggi-do
When: Daily 10 AM to 5 PM
Price: 3,000 won; Free movies Sundays at 1:30 PM
Good information but outdated directions

Festivals & Exhibitions

9th Annual Seoul Assitej Children’s Theater Festival
Various live action, puppets and marionettes performances for the whole family.
Where: National Theater of Korea, Arko Arts Theater & Daehangno Arts Theater
When: Fri-Sat-Sun (Festival ends 13 Jan)
Price: 20,000 and 30,000 won

17th Annual Holiday Electric Model Trains, Villages & Landscapes
Where: Millennium Hilton Hotel, 1st Floor, Namdaemun, Seoul
When: Until 13 Jan
Price: FREE
Korea Times Article

Wedding Fair and Exhibition
has Wedding halls, planners, decorations, caterers, honeymoon destinations,
Wedding gowns, tuxedos, etc.
Where: SETEC
When: Saturday and Sunday 11 AM-8 PM, 5-6 Jan
Price: call 120 for ticket prices and subway directions

Venice in Seoul Festival
featuring 21 Classic and Modern Italian Films
by the Italian Cultural Center in Korea & Korean Association of Cinematheques
Where: Seoul Art Cinema, Insadong
Dark blue line #1 to Jong-gak Station#131 exit 3 or Orange Line 3 to Anguk Station #328 exit 4
When: ends 6 Jan 13
Price: 6,000 per screening
Festival Review and Festival Summary

Seoul Zoo Winter Festival
Who: Families and couples
Where: Inside Seoul Grand Park
Go out USAG-Y’’s 24-hr Visitor Gate #13 to Ichon Station #430 and take Blue Line #4 to Take Blue subway line #4 to Seoul Grand Park Subway Station #437, exit #2
When: Thursday - Sunday 9 AM to 6 PM
Price: (Zoo) 3,000 won adults, 2,000 won 6 - 12 years, and 1,000 won under six
(Dolphin Show) additional 2,000 won adult, 1,500 ages 6-12, and 1,000 under six

Out & About

The Six Han River Bridge Cafes & Observation Decks
built as part of the bridges with different designs, interiors, menus, music and scenic day/night views of the mountains, city and river traffic
Where: Gwangjin Bridge, Jamsil Bridge, Hannam Bridge, Dongjak Bridge, Hangang Bridge, Yanghwa Bridge
When: Daily
Price: Depends on what you eat or drink

Han River Cruises
Where: Round trips from Yeouido, Jamsil, and other locations
When: Several day and night cruises
Price: 6 - 13,000 won, depending on ship, location and length of cruise

Ice Skating Rinks around Seoul
Where: 13 different Ice Rinks
When: Most will operate until Jan 12; Some indoor rinks open year round
Price: Varies, free rinks are available – all have skates for rent

Sledding, Bungee Jumping, 4-D Movies, Playgrounds, etc.
Where: Ttukseom Hangang Outdoor Park
Subway Line 7 to Ttukseom Resort Station #728, Exits 2 and 3
When: Daily 9 AM to 6 PM
Price: General Admission 5,000 won
various paid attractions additional 2 - 8,000 won

Pororo the Penguin Theme Park
Who: Pororo (Korea’s international answer to Big Bird, Barney and Teletubbies)
Where: 4th floor D-Cube Mall (line 1 or 2 Sindorim Station Exit 2)
Price: 16,000 for child, 6,000 for adult
Wikipedia and Blog Post

Th oroughbred Race Horses
Horse Racing in Seoul with infield Family Park
Where: Seoul Race Park
When: Sunday (first post) 2:30 PM (call 1330 to confirm races will take place)
Price: 1,000 won entrance fee; no requirement to bet on the races
You Tube and Schedule

Theater

World Beat Vinar i
by a company of energetic Korean traditional fusion dancers, musicians and singers
Where: Cine Core Bldg 4th Floor, Jongno-gu
Dark Blue Subway line 1 from I-Park Mall/Yongsan Station#135, or Seoul Station #133, to Jongno 3-ga Station #130. Go out exit 15. Walking directions from exit 15.
When: Tuesday-Friday 8 PM, Saturday and Sunday 4 PM
Price: 40,000 and 60,000 won with discounts up to 50% available
Review and Video Promo

Phantom of the Opera
25th Anniversary Tour - in English
by the International touring company with a U.S. tenor (Brad Little) and an Australian
Soprano in lead roles
Where: Samsung Blue Square Theater in Itaewon, Hanam-dong
When: Daily; Tickets now on sale at the box office
Price: 50 - 160,000 won
Korea Times, Official Website & Brad Little video

Museums

Van Gogh in Paris
Exhibition of some 60 works on loan from Amsterdam
Where: Hangaram Design Museum, Seoul Arts Center
When: Sun - Fri 10 AM – 8 PM, Sat 10 AM - 9 PM
Price: 15,000 won with discounts available

Gwacheon National Science Museum
Family friendly with interactive science exhibits for kids
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday 0930AM - 5:30 PM (closed Monday)
Where: Take Blue Line #4 From Samgakji Station #428 to Seoul Grand Park Subway Station #437. Exit 5 leads to the Science Museum.
Price: Museum 4,000 won adults 2,000 won children
Planetarium 2,000 won adults, 1,000 won children

Movies

The Tower
New big budget Korean high rise disaster/action movie
Where: CGV Theaters, I-Park Mall, Yongsan-gu
When: English sub-titles shows Sunday 6 PM, 6 Jan
Price: 8,000 won (call 120 or 1330 to confirm ticket price)
Schedule & Review

Land Cinema Theaters, ET Land Mal l

Les Miserables
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 9:20 AM, 10:20 AM
Call 120 or 1330 to confirm showtimes
Where: Behind I-Park Mall/Yongsan Station (Wikimapia)
Price: 5,000 Early Bird showings before 11 AM
Later showings 7 - 8,000 won

Deals

Sejong Belt
Discount tour packages for popular shows, dining & exhibits
Association of 30 theaters, restaurants & museums
Where: Main ticket office is under Gwanghwamun Plaza between US Embassy and Sejong Art Center
When: Ongoing
Price: Depends on package; could result in 30-50% discount