Price explosion burns fireworks show fans

Fireworks shine Seoul's night sky in October 2015. 63 Building, the tallest building left of the fireworks, offers one of the best views. / Courtesy of Hanwha

By Ko Dong-hwan

Restaurants and hotels will sting customers with high prices as demand rises for venues offering good views of this month’s international fireworks show in Seoul.

Drawing over a million people to Yeouido in central Seoul, the annual fireworks show on Sept. 30 drives people to find good vantage points. And their desperation is fueling the greed of some service providers.

An upscale restaurant on the top floor of the 63 Building in Yeouido offers the closest view of the fireworks and demand on show night has exceeded that of the Christmas holiday season.

A “special menu” is being offered, with courses including a glass of wine, which are priced 50,000 won ($44) to 60,000 won more expensive than the regular menu. The cheapest set on the menu is 250,000 won a person. The restaurant was booked out as of Wednesday afternoon.

Restaurants in IFC Mall, in the island district close to the 63 Building, are also charging more on the day, as are other eateries in the area famous for good views of the fireworks. These were booked out early this month.

“There are tens of people who failed to book and left a deposit in case there happens to be a cancellation that they want to fill,” one of the restaurants said.

Hotels near the show or those offering good views have released special packages priced up to millions of won. One in Mapo-gu expects all its suites will be booked by Friday.

A two-star hotel in Busan, where a major fireworks show is held on Oct. 28, introduced a 2 million won package for groups of four for the day, including a one-night stay and a meal. The hotel’s regular rates range from 80,000 won to 150,000 won a night.

In Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, where a fireworks show was held in August last year, a cafe was criticized for charging customers an extra 20,000 won for the view.