Around 300,000 flock to Nodeul Island light festival in four days; public transport use up 167%

[Financial News] Around 300,000 people flocked to the 'Seoul Light Hangang Bitseom Festival' on Nodeul Island in Seoul during the four days after it opened. During the festival, public transport use on Nodeul Island and in the surrounding area also rose to at least twice its usual level. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to draw festivalgoers to commercial districts in Noryangjin and Sinyongsan and link the Han River nighttime festival to the revitalization of the local economy. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on the 8th that about 299,000 people visited the festival from the 2nd to the 5th. Now in its fourth year, the Bitseom Festival is a nighttime media-art event that uses light to connect art, nature and the city. First held on Seorae Island in 2023, it moved to Yeouido and Ttukseom Hangang Park before moving to Nodeul Island this year.
The festival showcases media-art works using the Han River waterfront. Firmamento, by the Italian media-art group Quiet Ensemble, was unveiled in Asia for the first time. Wires and lasers are installed on a structure 30 meters wide and 10 meters tall, allowing visitors to walk inside the work and experience the light firsthand. Each session can accommodate about 200 visitors, and at one point the queue exceeded 600 people.
Aka Chang's Multimmersion and PAMUN were installed on waterfront barges and blended with the Han River, while works such as Nodeul Willows Shining Brightly and Pavilion of Light welcomed visitors at spots throughout Nodeul Island.
The crowds at the festival also drove a sharp rise in public transport use. From the 2nd to the 5th, around 125,000 people used Nodeul Station and the bus stops near Nodeul Island. That was a 167% increase from the 47,000 recorded from the 11th to the 14th of last month.
The number of passengers boarding and alighting at the two bus stops serving both directions on Nodeul Island rose 5.9-fold, from around 10,000 to around 60,000. Over the same period, ridership at Nodeul Station also climbed 140%, from 15,000 to 35,000.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government is operating free shuttle buses to make it easier for visitors to get around. From 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., they connect Exit 4 of Sinyongsan Station, Nodeul Island, Exit 2 of Nodeul Station and Exit 3 of Noryangjin Station. Four buses run every 15 minutes.
Discount promotions linked to nearby commercial districts are also underway. In Noryangjin, about 300 businesses are taking part and offering benefits such as discounts on purchases. At 12 locations, including restaurants in the Sinyongsan area, customers can get 10% off if they follow or 'like' festival-related social media. Nine food trucks are also operating at the festival site.
The Bitseom Festival continues through the 11th. On the 9th, there will be a science lecture and a lighting fashion show by the University Fashion Association, with performances by vocalist Park Seong-hui, musical actor Choi Jeong-won and singer Sean, among others. On the 10th, Noh Hee-young and Professor Kim Beom-su of Sungkyunkwan University will give talks, and rapper Coogie will perform. On the final day, the 11th, vocalist Ahn Se-kwon and singer Bumkey are scheduled to take the stage. Programs will also be available during the day. Barre, Nodeul Yoga, outdoor reading and live performances are scheduled throughout the festival.
Choi In-gyu, Seoul Metropolitan Government's Design Policy Officer, said, "The Seoul Light Hangang Bitseom Festival is establishing itself as a leading nighttime festival where people can enjoy the Han River's nightscape and light art," adding, "This year, links with nearby commercial districts and public transportation have added to its significance as a festival of shared prosperity for citizens and the local community."

[email protected] Seong Chorong Reporter