[On the Ground] Spectators Even Set Up Fences to Secure Prime Spots... ‘Battle to Get Home’ Begins After Million-Person Fireworks Show

[Financial News]"5, 4, 3, 2, 1, launch." At around 8 p.m. on the 5th, at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul, the countdown ended and the first fireworks shot into the night sky with a thunderous roar. In some areas deeper inside the park, low-burst fireworks were obscured by trees, prompting spectators to move their heads from side to side. Soon, however, colorful fireworks soared high above the trees, drawing cheers from across the park. Spectators raised their phones overhead to capture the night sky.
This year’s Seoul International Fireworks Festival featured teams from three countries: South Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom. The British team presented lively fireworks set to songs including “Soda Pop,” featured in the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” The U.S. team paired its fireworks with grand melodies such as “Carmina Burana.” The South Korean team, which performed the finale, continued its show against a backdrop including Lee Sora’s “The Wind Blows,” using Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” as its motif.
This year’s program also featured a so-called “decalcomania” display, with fireworks launched symmetrically into the sky on both sides of the Han River around Wonhyo Bridge. As the fireworks climbed higher, residents came outside to watch from apartment complexes near Yeouido as well as from Hangang Park.
A man in his 20s, identified only by his surname Kim, who lives in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, said, "I was worried there would be too many people, but after seeing it in person, I felt it was worth coming." He added, "The fireworks were much more spectacular than I expected."
Citizens who could not attend in person also enjoyed the festival online. The event was streamed live on YouTube and CHZZK, with approximately 200,000 people watching the fireworks online. Organizers estimated that more than one million people attended the festival, including visitors in Yeouido and surrounding areas.
As large crowds gathered, tensions of various kinds continued even before the event began. Some spectators climbed onto fences or other facilities in search of better views, leading to confrontations as police asked them to come down. Police officers and safety personnel from the organizers repeatedly instructed people throughout the venue, "Please keep moving without stopping" and "Do not climb onto the facilities."
Measures were also strengthened this year to prevent the chronic practice of staking out prime viewing spots. Before the event, the Seoul Metropolitan Government collected mats and other belongings that had been left unattended in Hangang Park for long periods. People have repeatedly occupied public places with good views in advance and then sold the spots on secondhand trading platforms for tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of won. The city responded by clearing away unattended items.
The police also deployed a large number of personnel to manage the crowds. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency assigned approximately 4,500 officers, including 51 riot police units and 28 teams from the metropolitan preventive patrol force. The Seoul Metropolitan Government, firefighters, safety personnel from the organizers, designated drivers and volunteers also helped people move along major routes.
After the final fireworks disappeared, the “second half” of the journey home began. Because crowds grew faster than expected, trains began passing through Yeouinaru Station without stopping at 6:11 p.m., about 50 minutes earlier than the originally scheduled 7 p.m. start. Spectators dispersed to nearby stations, including Yeouido Station, Saetgang Station, Daebang Station and Singil Station. In narrow passageways, the sudden influx of people slowed the flow of pedestrians. The no-stop measure was lifted at around 10:10 p.m.
[email protected] Reporter Choi Seung-han Reporter