The Ssokssokdeuri Festival (쏙쏙들이 페스티벌) is a free performing arts festival run by the National Theater of Korea at its Stage Art Support Center (국립극장 무대예술지원센터), near Heyri (헤이리) in Paju, Gyeonggi-do. From March 14 to December 26, 2026, shows take place at 2 PM on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. You don’t need to book. Free tickets are handed out first come, first served from 12:00 on the day of each show.
What Is the Ssokssokdeuri Festival?
The National Theater of Korea started this regular festival so that people could see live performing arts as part of everyday life. The genre changes from show to show: theater, dance, musicals, music and traditional Korean performing arts all appear on the program. Each performance starts from a popular genre and gives the artists room to show their own style. The shows suit all ages, from young children to adults.
The National Theater of Korea hosts the festival, and its Stage Art Support Center organizes it. Every performance is free.
Ssokssokdeuri Festival 2026 Schedule and Venue
The festival doesn’t run every day. Shows happen only on set Saturday afternoons, so check the dates before you plan a trip.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Festival period | 2026-03-14 ~ 2026-12-26 |
| Show days | 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month |
| Show time | 2 PM (14:00–15:00) |
| Venue | Experience Theater “Ssok” (체험극장 ‘쏙’), 1st floor, National Theater of Korea Stage Art Support Center |
| Address | 경기도 파주시 탄현면 헤이리로 16 |
| Admission | Free |
| Age rating | All ages |
| Contact | 031-870-9110 |
| Website | https://www.ntok.go.kr/sasc |
The organizers note that the schedule may change because of internal circumstances.
Remaining Ssokssokdeuri Festival Shows in November and December
Under the regular schedule, four show dates are left this year. As of November 8, 2026, the title and performers have been announced for November 14 only.
| Date | Time | Performance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, November 14 | 14:00 | NOK Choice (〈노크 초이스〉) | Announced |
| Saturday, November 28 | 14:00 | TBA | Not yet announced |
| Saturday, December 12 | 14:00 | TBA | Not yet announced |
| Saturday, December 26 | 14:00 | TBA | Not yet announced |
As each date gets closer, look for the program and cast of the November 28, December 12 and December 26 shows on the official notice board.
November 14: What Is NOK Choice?
NOK Choice is a concert of Korean traditional orchestral music. The program draws on signature chamber pieces from the National Orchestra of Korea’s repertoire, and the orchestra’s youth trainee members perform it.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | NOK Choice (〈노크 초이스〉) |
| Date | Saturday, November 14, 2026 |
| Time | 14:00, 60 minutes |
| Performers | National Orchestra of Korea youth trainee members |
| Genre | Korean traditional orchestral music (gukak orchestra) |
| Age rating | All ages |
| Venue | Experience Theater “Ssok”, 1st floor, National Theater of Korea Stage Art Support Center |
| Admission | Free |
Ssokssokdeuri Festival Tickets: Admission and How to Get In
Admission is free and the festival does not take reservations. You can only pick up tickets on site, on the day of the show.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Admission | Free |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Ticket distribution starts | 12:00 on the day of the show |
| Where | Information desk, 1st floor of the center |
| How | First come, first served |
| Note | Tickets may run out early, depending on seating |
Since tickets are free, there’s nothing to pay. Seats are limited, though, so if you really want to see a show, try to arrive around 12:00.
Beyond the Shows: More to Do at the Stage Art Support Center
The center also has free programs you can enjoy outside the Saturday performances.
| Program | When | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance film screenings | Every Sunday at 2 PM | Experience Theater “Ssok” | Free |
| Center exhibition | Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00 | Stage Art Support Center | Free |
- Performance film screenings: These screenings show recorded performances produced by the National Theater of Korea, Korea’s national arts companies and the Seoul Arts Center. The fourth-quarter lineup was posted as an image in a notice dated September 30, 2026.
- Center exhibition: The exhibition is closed on Mondays, January 1, and on Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Korean harvest festival) days. Groups of 5–70 people can book an exhibition tour with a guide, a center tour or a career-exploration program through Naver Reservation.
How to Get to the Ssokssokdeuri Festival at the Stage Art Support Center
The nearest bus stop to the center is Matgoeul·Gungnip Minsok Bangmulgwan (맛고을·국립민속박물관). The tables below list only the routes given on the center’s official directions page. No travel times or fares were available, so they are left out.
From Seoul
| Starting point | Transportation | Get off at |
|---|---|---|
| Hongik Univ. Station (홍대입구역) Exit 1, Seoul | Express intercity bus (direct seating) 2200 or 2200-1 | Matgoeul·Gungnip Minsok Bangmulgwan |
Other Buses That Stop at Matgoeul·Gungnip Minsok Bangmulgwan
| Bus number | Route |
|---|---|
| 2200, 2200-1 | Express intercity bus (direct seating) toward Hongik Univ. Station |
| 37 | Unjeong Station ↔ Chukhyeon General Industrial Complex |
| 33 | Tanhyeon Middle School ↔ Geumchon Rotary·Lifelong Learning Center |
| 33-1 | Tanhyeon Middle School ↔ Chukhyeon 2-ri |
| 900 | Daehwa Station ↔ Tongil Dongsan Observatory |
By Car
Exit Jayu-ro at Seongdong IC and drive past Seongdong Intersection to reach the center.
| Reference point | Distance to the center |
|---|---|
| Jayu-ro Seongdong IC | 1.7 km |
| Heyri | 900 m |
| Unjeong Station | 11 km |
| Daehwa Station | 17 km |
The center’s materials don’t list routes from Busan or from the airport. Check the official directions page for current routes before you set off.
Tips for Visiting the Ssokssokdeuri Festival
- Get there before 12:00. Tickets go out first come, first served from 12:00 on show day, and they may run out early depending on seating.
- Check the notice board before you go. Shows may change for internal reasons, and the programs from November 28 onward haven’t been announced yet.
- Make time for the exhibition. It’s open 10:00–18:00 on Saturdays too, so you can see it for free before or after the show.
- Stay for Sunday’s film screening. If you’re spending the whole weekend in Paju, the 2 PM Sunday screening is worth catching.
- Pair your visit with Heyri. The center is only 900 m from Heyri.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book for the Ssokssokdeuri Festival?
No, you don’t need to book. The festival doesn’t take reservations. Tickets are handed out on site, first come, first served, on the day of each show.
When and where can I pick up tickets?
You can pick them up from 12:00 on show day at the information desk on the center’s 1st floor. Tickets may run out early depending on seating, so it’s best to arrive early.
Is there an admission fee or age limit?
Admission is free, and the shows are open to all ages. The November 14 NOK Choice performance is also rated for all ages.
Does the Ssokssokdeuri Festival run every day?
No. Shows run only at 2 PM on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. The festival runs from March 14 to December 26, 2026.
What’s the schedule and lineup for November and December?
The remaining show dates are November 14, November 28, December 12 and December 26. On November 14, the National Orchestra of Korea’s youth trainee members will perform NOK Choice. Titles and performers for the other dates haven’t been announced yet.
How do I get to the National Theater of Korea Stage Art Support Center by public transportation?
From Hongik Univ. Station Exit 1 in Seoul, take express intercity bus 2200 or 2200-1 and get off at Matgoeul·Gungnip Minsok Bangmulgwan. Buses 37, 33, 33-1 and 900 also stop there.
Are there other programs at the Stage Art Support Center besides the shows?
Yes. You can see the center’s exhibition and attend performance film screenings, both for free. The exhibition is open Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00, and the screenings run every Sunday at 2 PM in Experience Theater “Ssok.”
Who do I contact with questions?
Call 031-870-9110 with questions about exhibitions or performances. You can also find more information on the website (https://www.ntok.go.kr/sasc).
