Here Comes the Sun - Where to Watch the 1st Sunrise of 2020

Various events are taking place across the country to bid farewell to 2019 and greet the arrival of 2020. Now is the time to make plans if you want to welcome the New Year by witnessing the first sunrise of 2020.

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According to the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, the first sunrise of the New Year will occur at 7:37 a.m. on the easternmost islets of Dokdo. The sun will then be visible in Seoul at 7:47 a.m.

Jeongdongjin in Gangwon Province, Ganjeolgot Cape in Ulsan, Homigot Cape in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province and Haeundae Beach in Busan have been among the most popular spots for watching the sunrise.

There will be a New Year's Eve festival in Ganjeolgot Cape on the last day of this year, climaxing with a countdown to midnight and a fireworks show. Those who watch the first sunrise there will get a chance to launch paper airplanes with their wishes written on them.

In Homigot Cape, visitors can welcome the New Year by watching an aerial show by the Korean Air Force's Black Eagles aerobatic team. Also, they will be treated to a hot bowl of tteokguk or rice cake soup, which will be prepared in a huge cauldron serving 10,000 people. Eating tteokguk traditionally marks another year in a person's life. Visitors can enjoy a hot bowl of the hearty dish as they welcome the first morning of the New Year.

As for those who would prefer to avoid the huge crowds that gather at these popular spots, here are some alternative or " hidden " locations to welcome the first sunrise of the New Year.

Sotbawi in Uiryeong, South Gyeongsang Province is a unique spot to do so, with local lore claiming that the location brings prosperity to visitors. Also known as "the boulder of wealth", legend has it that people living within 8 km of Sotbawi become extremely wealthy.

A newly opened observatory in Goseong, Gangwon Province offers a perfect alternative to start the New Year, as it offers a glimpse across the demilitarized zone into North Korea. The observatory will open at 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, allowing visitors to catch the first sunrise. But visitors must fill out some paperwork and sit through an instruction session before entering the observatory. Visitors are admitted in groups only.

As for those who are looking for something exciting, a great place to visit is Baekrokdam, a lake crater on Jeju Island's Mt. Halla. The usual visiting rules will be eased to allow people to climb the mountain at midnight on Jan. 1, so they can see the first sunrise of the year from the summit.

But people can still enjoy the first sunrise of 2020 in Seoul, instead of heading off on a long trip.

A park on Nodeul Island located under the Hangangdaegyo Bridge connecting Yongsan and Noryangjin opened in March of this year and offers a view of the sun on the Han River. The park is open 24 hours a day, but its outdoor ice-skating rink opens at 10 a.m. and other stores there open at 11 a.m.

The 123-story Lotte World Tower in Jamsil is the highest point in Seoul. Its observatory, with a transparent floor, is located on the 118th floor and offers a breathtaking view of the sunrise. For New Year's revelers, Lotte will open the observatory earlier than usual at 6.30 a.m. on the first day of the year. But tickets must be purchased in advance online and cost W80,000 per person (US$1=W1,162).