The 2026 Seoul World Fireworks Festival will illuminate the night sky over Yeouido Hangang Park on September 5. Fireworks teams from South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom will present a synchronized display set to music, with an expected turnout of up to 1 million spectators prompting police and city officials to implement safety and traffic measures.
This year's festival, hosted by Hanwha Group and SBS with support from Seoul City, is themed 'Finding Your Light.' The event will run from 1 PM to 10 PM, with the main fireworks show scheduled from 8 PM to 9:10 PM.
Participating teams include Hanwha from South Korea, along with representatives from the U.S. and U.K. The British team will feature fireworks set to the Netflix animated series 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' while the American team will use melodies from 'Carmina Burana: O Fortuna.' Hanwha will express the song 'The Wind Blows' by singer Lee Sora through their fireworks display.
The festival's pre-event on September 4 attracted an estimated 100,000 attendees to Yeouido and Ichon Hangang Parks, concluding without any safety incidents. However, the main event is expected to draw a significantly larger crowd.
Seoul City, police, fire services, and Hanwha Group have established a comprehensive safety headquarters to manage the event. The Seoul Metropolitan Police have elevated the on-site command to the Deputy Chief of Public Safety and will concentrate police resources at key access points and subway stations near Yeouido.
In light of recent bomb threat reports targeting urban facilities, anti-terror measures have been intensified. The police special forces will search the area for suspicious objects before the event, and barriers will be erected at critical locations to prevent vehicle incursions.
If a bomb threat is reported, a joint analysis response team comprising anti-terror, criminal, and emergency services will assess the risk. If necessary, they will coordinate with event organizers to evacuate spectators and conduct safety checks at suspicious locations.
Fireworks will be monitored by local police from the transportation and installation stages through to the event's conclusion. A dedicated safety situation room will be operational on the day of the event.
To address potential crime, 12 criminal investigation teams and mobile units will be deployed in crowded areas and blind spots of CCTV coverage. The metropolitan prevention patrol and order maintenance teams will crack down on illegal ticket sales and scalping, while a dedicated investigation team will look into fraudulent ticket purchases using macros.
The Han River Police will deploy five patrol boats to restrict vessel access between Mapo Bridge and Hangang Bridge. Patrol cars and motorcycles will be stationed along Olympic Boulevard and Gangbyeonbuk-ro, as well as at Yanghwa, Seogang, Mapo, Hangang, and Dongjak Bridges to prevent illegal parking for fireworks viewing.
Traffic around the event site will also be restricted. Vehicle access will be completely blocked on Yeouido Road from the southern end of Mapo Bridge to 63 Building from 3 PM to midnight. Wonhyo Bridge will be closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic from 9 AM on September 6 until 3 AM the following day.
Subway Line 5's Yeoinaru Station may experience congestion between 7 PM and 10 PM, leading to possible non-stop train passes or station entrance closures. The city urges attendees to use nearby stations such as Yeouido, Mapo, and Saetgang.
Subway Lines 5 and 9 will increase service by a total of 83 trains. During peak hours, 26 bus routes passing through Yeouido Transfer Center and Yeouido Station will also see increased service. Detailed traffic information can be found on the Seoul City traffic information portal, TOPIS.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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