Seoul turns underground municipal gallery into Pokémon destination

Seoul City Hall’s underground Seoul Gallery is turning into a Pokémon GO autumn event space beginning Friday through Oct. 11. The special display will feature an exclusive hanbok-clad Pikachu, AR photo booths and digital garden projections. City officials say the event comes as the gallery nears 1 million visitors since its February 2026 opening. The adjacent Seoul Policy Gallery will also showcase municipal initiatives, including the Hangang Bus ferry service, Seoul Learn and public health programs.

The special Pokémon GO autumn picnic event runs for 24 days, from Friday through Oct. 11, at the basement level of Seoul City Hall.

The Seoul Gallery is nearing 1 million visitors since it opened in February 2026.

The gallery will feature an exclusive Pikachu dressed in traditional Korean clothes, plus themed augmented reality photo booths and digital garden projections.

The special exhibition is open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, with adjusted hours on Sundays and holidays.

Published Sep 14, 2026 11:47 am KST

A promotional poster for a Pokémon pop-up store event at Lotte World Mall in Jamsil, Songpa District, Seoul / Korea Times file

Seoul City Hall is trading bureaucratic gray for Pikachu orange.

The Seoul Gallery, an underground exhibition space owned by the municipal government, is preparing to welcome an unusual resident: An exclusive Pikachu dressed in traditional Korean clothes, brought to life through a high-profile civic partnership.

Beginning Friday and running through Oct. 11, the basement level of City Hall will host a special Pokémon GO autumn picnic event. The collaboration arrives as the gallery approaches a special milestone of one million visitors since its grand opening in February 2026, cementing its status as an unorthodox anchor for public engagement in Korea’s bustling capital.

City officials are leaning into global pop culture as a nontraditional way to bridge the gap between citizens and the municipal government.

Inside the venue, players opening the mobile game will encounter the rare hanbok-clad Pikachu, along with themed augmented reality photo booths and digital garden projections. This playful atmosphere is seamlessly interwoven with civic education. Directly adjacent to the gaming zones lies the Seoul Policy Gallery, an interactive exhibition highlighting municipal initiatives such as the Hangang Bus ferry service, the Seoul Learn educational portal and local public health programs.

"With the crisp autumn air setting ... the Seoul Gallery under City Hall is transforming into a special picnic space where whole families can come together and share a laugh," said Kim Hyung-rae, director of communications planning. "By pairing a globally beloved game with live performances, we hope citizens build delightful memories."

This clever fusion of mobile gaming and civic governance reflects a broader strategy by Korea's local authorities to reinvent public buildings as accessible "community living rooms." Conceived as a window into municipal planning, the Seoul Gallery features futuristic city scale models, interactive media spheres and family-friendly play zones. By pairing a worldwide digital phenomenon with local policy achievements, the city aims to draw massive crowds during a packed autumn calendar that spans major national holidays like Chuseok and Hangeul Day.

The twenty-four-day festival will feature a rotating lineup of live performances ranging from fusion traditional music and classical ensembles to lively family entertainment. Visitors can also participate in interactive poetry writing events tied to city policies, with official merchandise awarded to daily participants. A celebratory finale is scheduled for Oct. 9, featuring live magic and musical acts to honor the community's turnout.

Operating hours for the special exhibition run from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, with adjusted hours on Sundays and holidays.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

从本周五至10月11日，首尔市政厅地下的首尔画廊将变身为宝可梦GO主题秋季活动空间。此次特别展览将展出身着韩服的皮卡丘、AR拍照亭和数字花园投影。市政府官员表示，此次活动正值首尔画廊自2026年2月开放以来，参观人数即将突破100万之际。毗邻的首尔政策画廊也将展示市政举措，包括汉江巴士渡轮服务、首尔学习计划和公共卫生项目。

特别的 Pokémon GO 秋季野餐活动将于周五至 10 月 11 日在首尔市政厅地下一层举行，为期 24 天。

首尔画廊自 2026 年 2 月开馆以来，参观人数已接近 100 万。

画廊将展出身着传统韩服的独家皮卡丘，以及主题增强现实照相亭和数字花园投影。

特展的开放时间为周一至周六上午 10:00 至下午 7:00，周日及节假日开放时间有所调整。

发布于2026年9月14日上午11:47（韩国标准时间）

首尔松坡区蚕室乐天世界购物中心宝可梦快闪店活动的宣传海报 / 《韩国时报》资料图

首尔市政府正在用皮卡丘橙色取代官僚主义的灰色。

首尔市政府拥有的地下展览空间首尔画廊即将迎来一位不同寻常的住户：一个身着传统韩服的专属皮卡丘，这是通过一项备受瞩目的市民合作项目打造的。

从周五开始至10月11日，市政厅地下一层将举办一场特别的Pokémon GO秋季野餐活动。此次合作正值该画廊自2026年2月盛大开幕以来，参观人数即将突破一百万大关之际，巩固了其作为韩国首都繁华都市中一个别具一格的公共参与场所的地位。

市政官员正利用全球流行文化这种非传统的方式来弥合市民与市政府之间的鸿沟。

在场馆内，玩家打开手机游戏后，会遇到身着韩服的稀有皮卡丘，以及主题增强现实拍照亭和数字花园投影。这种轻松愉快的氛围与公民教育巧妙融合。紧邻游戏区的是首尔政策展厅，这是一个互动展览，重点展示首尔市政府的各项举措，例如汉江巴士渡轮服务、首尔学习门户网站和当地公共卫生项目。

“秋意渐浓，首尔市政府大楼下的首尔画廊将变身为一个特别的野餐场所，让全家人可以欢聚一堂，共享欢乐时光，”传播策划总监金亨来表示，“我们希望通过将风靡全球的游戏与现场表演相结合，为市民们留下美好的回忆。”

这种将移动游戏与市政管理巧妙融合的做法，体现了韩国地方政府将公共建筑改造为便捷的“社区客厅”的更广泛战略。首尔画廊旨在展现市政规划，展出未来主义的城市模型、互动媒体空间和适合家庭游玩的游乐区。通过将全球数字现象与地方政策成就相结合，首尔希望在秋季节日期间（包括中秋节和韩文日等重要国定假日）吸引大量游客。

为期24天的节日将轮番上演精彩纷呈的现场表演，涵盖融合传统音乐、古典乐团演奏以及热闹的家庭娱乐节目。游客还可以参与与城市政策相关的互动诗歌创作活动，每日参与者均可获得官方纪念品。10月9日将举行盛大的闭幕庆祝活动，届时将有现场魔术和音乐表演，以感谢社区的积极参与。

特别展览的开放时间为工作日和周六上午 10:00 至下午 7:00，周日和节假日开放时间有所调整。

本文由生成式人工智能协助发布，并由《韩国时报》编辑。