Hanwha’s Seoul International Fireworks Festival Draws 1 Million Spectators

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul International Fireworks Festival, one of South Korea’s largest annual public events, lit up the skies above the Han River on Saturday, drawing more than one million spectators with elaborate displays coordinated by Hanwha and teams from Italy and Canada.

Now in its 21st year, the festival featured a first-ever “mirror image” presentation, with synchronized fireworks launched on both sides of Wonhyo Bridge, extending west toward Mapo Bridge and east toward the Hangang Railway Bridge.

Organizers said the new format helped disperse crowds beyond the usual viewing zones of Yeouido, Ichon and Noryangjin, reaching Mapo and Seonyudo Park as well.

The Korean team, performing under the theme “Golden Hour — Into the Shining Time,” staged fireworks set to IU’s Square’s Dream in geometric patterns and crown-shaped bursts choreographed to Golden, the theme song from the hit animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters.

The spectacle also played out online: Hanwha’s official YouTube channel, Hanwha TV, drew 2.18 million live views and peaked at 240,000 concurrent connections.

Security was a central focus. Hanwha deployed 3,700 staff members, including employee volunteers and professional safety crews, while the Seoul city government mobilized 5,000 police, firefighters and municipal personnel.

The company also used “Orange Safety,” a smart monitoring system linked to telecom networks, to track crowd density in real time. Surveillance cameras across Yeouido and nearby districts provided additional oversight.

After the finale, more than 1,200 Hanwha volunteers stayed behind for a “clean campaign,” collecting trash and restoring Yeouido Hangang Park.

Hanwha said the combination of safety planning, crowd control and environmental cleanup underscored its commitment to ensuring the festival remains both spectacular and sustainable.

Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com