KPop Demon Hunters Lights Up Seoul With 1,200 Drones Over the Han River

Seoul landmarks and film characters take to the sky

A fleet of 1,200 synchronized drones will bring KPop Demon Hunters to the sky above Seoul's Han River on Sunday, September 7, 2025. The free Hangang Drone Light Show starts at 8 p.m. at Ttukseom Hangang Park in northeastern Seoul, opening a series of five evenings that runs through October 18.

The opening display will combine characters from the animated streaming hit with illuminated versions of Cheongdam Bridge and Bukchon Hanok Village. Both places appear in the film, allowing the program to connect its fictional adventure with the real city around the audience. The formations will use coordinated movement and changing colors to turn the riverfront sky into a moving display.

The main drone sequence lasts about 15 minutes, ending around 8:15 p.m. Entertainment on the ground extends the visit beyond that short performance: opening acts begin at roughly 7:30 p.m., with dance covers and pop performances scheduled before and after the aerial show.

Visitors can also use a themed photo zone with costumes and face painting. Admission is free, with no tickets or seat reservations, and the display can be seen from many riverfront locations. Weather remains a practical concern, with heavy rain or strong winds capable of changing the timing or forcing a postponement.

Five autumn dates, followed by a separate special show

Ttukseom Hangang Park will host the five dates in the autumn series. September 7 is the opening KPop Demon Hunters themed night, while later evenings will introduce new scenes. City announcements also identify a collaboration with Kakao Friends on selected nights, giving returning visitors different content during the run.

The announced schedule is:

• Sunday, September 7: the opening KPop Demon Hunters themed show at Ttukseom Hangang Park.
• Saturday, September 13: the second evening in the autumn series.
• Saturday, September 20: the third evening in the series.
• Friday, September 26: the fourth evening in the series.
• Saturday, October 18: the final scheduled evening of the five date run.
• Saturday, October 25: a separate special display with about 2,000 drones at Noeul Park in western Seoul, paired with the Seoul BBQ Festa weekend.

The October 25 event has a different venue and a larger planned fleet than the standard Hangang shows. With about 2,000 drones compared with 1,200, it would use roughly 800 additional aircraft. The separate event extends the calendar beyond the autumn series, which ends on October 18.

What audiences will see above the river

Cheongdam Bridge and Bukchon Hanok Village will appear alongside familiar figures from KPop Demon Hunters. The opening program includes Derpy, the six eyed magpie Sussie, the unit HUNTR X, and the Saja Boys. Character poses and title motifs connect those figures with the illuminated city landmarks.

KPop Demon Hunters follows an idol crew confronting mysterious enemies. Its use of real Seoul locations gives the drone show a direct connection to the setting: the audience will be watching images of the city while standing beside one of its major rivers.

The choreography is designed to move between recognizable images, such as a bridge silhouette and a character portrait. Those transitions are part of the appeal of the format, with familiar shapes prompting audiences to cheer and raise their phones. Earlier sessions have similarly threaded recognizable icons through successive parts of the performance.

Seoul plans to rotate content across the five evenings. The KPop Demon Hunters opening therefore introduces the autumn run, while fresh scenes and the Kakao Friends collaboration give the later dates their own attractions.

A short sky show becomes an evening out

Dance cover crews will perform signature routines associated with KPop Demon Hunters, while pop performances and an upbeat soundtrack tied to the film support the evening's theme. The ground entertainment takes place before and after the main drone sequence, with opening acts beginning around half an hour before the 8 p.m. launch.

The costumes and face painting at the photo zone provide another activity for families attending the event. Together, the music, dance performances and photo opportunities make the program longer than the roughly 15 minutes when the drones are in the air.

Ttukseom Hangang Park is a regular setting for Seoul's drone spectacles because it offers broad river views and open sky. Visitors gather along the waterfront and on grassy areas near the Waterfront Stage. Arriving early gives people more time to find a clear view and enough space to sit before the busiest period around showtime.

How 1,200 drones form a single moving picture

Each aircraft in a drone light show is a small quadcopter, a flying machine with four rotors. It carries bright LED lights, a GPS receiver and a wireless connection to a control system on the ground. The lights supply the visible colors, while the positioning and communications equipment help each drone reach its assigned place.

Engineers prepare an exact flight path for every unit before the performance. The choreography tells the aircraft when to take off, where to hold their positions and when to change color. Hundreds or thousands of separate points of light can then form a recognizable image, text or a moving sequence.

Every drone has a specific role in the formation. A picture of a bridge, for example, depends on the aircraft reaching their planned positions together, just as individual pixels combine to make an image on a screen. Changing those positions and colors creates the next scene.

Geofencing software sets virtual boundaries around the flight area, keeping the fleet away from people and restricted locations. The Hangang performances usually last around 15 minutes, balancing the visual display with battery margins and the management of the airspace used by the aircraft.

Why wind and rain can change the schedule

Wind and rain are the main weather constraints for the show. Light rain can blur the LED display and reduce positioning accuracy. Gusty winds can push drones away from their intended paths and drain their batteries as they work to maintain position.

Organizers use weather windows and issue updates as conditions change. Heavy rain or strong winds can lead to postponement or cancellation, so visitors should check the Seoul City website or Instagram before travelling. Final decisions are posted through official channels and on signs at the venue.

Drone displays also suit a densely populated riverfront because they produce less smoke and far less noise than fireworks. The quieter format allows the show to take place beside nearby neighborhoods while still providing a large display above the water.

Seoul coordinates the events with air traffic authorities and first responders. The flight zone remains over the river, away from the most crowded parts of the park. Staff can control access to the waterfront when the number of visitors reaches unsafe levels.

Getting to Ttukseom and finding a place to watch

Subway Line 7 provides the recommended route to the venue through Jayang Station. City guidance advises passengers to use Exit 1 to ease congestion. Exits 2 and 3 are closer to the park gate and often become crowded near the start of the show.

Visitors should allow extra time for queues between the station and the river. With no reserved seating, arriving early is useful for anyone hoping to sit on the grass or secure a clear view near the Waterfront Stage. A mat or light blanket can make the wait more comfortable.

Evenings beside the river can feel cool after 8 p.m., so bringing an extra layer is advisable. The show is visible from multiple riverfront spots, giving visitors options beyond the busiest gathering areas, although access near the waterfront may be managed when crowds build.

Departure also requires patience. Many people will leave after the finale, and allowing time for a slow exit can make the journey back to the station easier. The recommendation to use public transport and the guidance on station exits are intended to help manage the flow of people around the event.

Facilities and restrictions visitors need to know

Public Wi Fi at Ttukseom Hangang Park is scheduled to be suspended on event days from noon until about 9:30 p.m., according to the 2025 visitor notice. Anyone relying on the park's network should account for that interruption when planning the evening.

Jayang Station's restrooms are under construction, according to the visitor advisory. Attendees are advised to use the park restrooms instead. The city's tourism information lists paths without steps, accessible parking and accessible restrooms among the venue's accessibility features.

Personal drones and balloons should be left at home because they are not allowed near the flight zone. Keeping that area clear supports the coordinated operation of the performance fleet and the boundaries set for the show.

Event information in Korean and English is available through the official event website. Visitors should check updates on the day they plan to attend, especially when rain or wind is forecast, and follow staff directions and signs at the park.

How the Hangang program has grown since 2023

Seoul launched the drone show concept in 2023 as part of Seoul Festa, aiming to encourage people to remain in the city into the evening. The debut attracted about 35,000 people across four shows, according to the city's policy archive.

The program expanded with seven more nights in the second half of 2023. It returned in 2024 with nine sessions divided between spring and autumn. The repeated use of the Han River setting has made the display a regular part of Seoul's cultural calendar.

For 2025, Seoul increased the standard fleet to 1,200 drones, with occasional larger displays reaching 2,000. Spring performances included magic acts and Taekwondo alongside the aerial sequences. The autumn program connects the same format with a streaming hit and familiar local character brands.

Free entry, entertainment suitable for families and access by subway make the riverfront program accessible to both residents and visitors. The September 7 opening brings those elements together around KPop Demon Hunters, while the remaining autumn dates and the separate October 25 display extend the schedule into the following month.

At a Glance

• The opening KPop Demon Hunters themed show is scheduled for Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 8 p.m. at Ttukseom Hangang Park.
• About 1,200 drones will form film characters and Seoul landmarks during a display lasting roughly 15 minutes.
• Opening acts begin around 7:30 p.m., with dance covers, pop performances, costumes and face painting also planned.
• The remaining autumn dates are September 13, September 20, September 26 and October 18.
• Admission is free, with no tickets or seat reservations. City guidance recommends Jayang Station Exit 1 on Subway Line 7.
• Heavy rain or strong winds may change the schedule. Visitors should check official updates before travelling.
• A separate show with about 2,000 drones is planned for October 25 at Noeul Park during the Seoul BBQ Festa weekend.