Seoul fireworks show attracts 1 million spectators
Summary
Some 1 million spectators visited Seoul International Fireworks Festival in Yeouido, with organizers saying many more watched from a distance. Hanwha Group said the event wrapped up successfully Saturday and was also streamed live online. The group spent about 13 billion won on the show and around 4.5 billion won on safety management. About 5,000 safety personnel were deployed, the most in the festival’s over 20-year history.
Key Facts
- The festival was livestreamed on Hanwha Group’s official YouTube channel and drew 2.68 million views, with peak concurrent users reaching 260,000.
- Hanwha Group said it invited around 300 families of national heroes and war veterans to the event.
- About 4.5 billion won was spent on safety management alone, out of the total cost of about 13 billion won.
- Around 5,000 safety personnel, including about 1,200 volunteers from Hanwha affiliates, were deployed for crowd control.
- Hanwha Group has hosted the annual fireworks festival since 2000.
Spectators capture the moment fireworks illuminate the night sky over Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul, during the 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival, Saturday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Some 1 million spectators visited the country's largest annual fireworks show in Seoul, its organizers said Sunday, with many more believed to have enjoyed the annual event from a distance.
The Seoul International Fireworks Festival in Seoul's Yeouido wrapped up successfully Saturday, according to Hanwha Group.
Some 300 families of national heroes and war veterans were invited to the event also broadcasted live on the group's official YouTube channel, which garnered 2.68 million views with peak concurrent users reaching 260,000.
The group, which shouldered the entire cost of some 13 billion won ($9.66 million) for the show, said it had made all-out efforts to ensure crowd safety, spending around 4.5 billion won for safety management alone.
Around 5,000 safety personnel, including some 1,200 volunteers from Hanwha affiliates, were deployed at the scene for crowd control, the largest number ever in the event's history of over 20 years.
The defense-to-ship building conglomerate added it also partnered with local telecommunication operators for real-time measurement of crowd density and CCTV monitoring.
Hanwha Group has been hosting the annual fireworks festival since 2000.
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