Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2025: Date, Show Highlights, and How to Navigate the Crowds

A blockbuster night on the Han River

The Seoul International Fireworks Festival returns to the Han River on Saturday, September 27, 2025, turning Yeouido Hangang Park into the center of one of the city’s largest public events. Organizers expect well over one million spectators to gather along both banks of the river for the free nighttime show. The festival, staged by Hanwha Group with broadcast partner SBS and support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, has shifted earlier than usual because Chuseok falls in the first week of October this year. From early afternoon the riverfront becomes an open air fairground, then at 7 p.m. the sky becomes the stage.

This year’s program features three national teams, Italy, Canada and Korea, choreographing fireworks to sweeping film scores and pop anthems. Italy opens with music by composer Ennio Morricone, Canada follows with a superhero themed set built on blockbuster soundtracks, and Korea’s finale, titled Into the Shining Time, traces a journey through time with a new narrative style. The show also introduces a mirrored staging concept that spans the river around Wonhyo Bridge, extending visibility from Mapo Bridge in the west to the Hangang Railway Bridge in the east. The design aims to give spectators across a wider area synchronized moments in the same musical sequence, a first for the festival at this scale.

Festivities begin at 1 p.m. across Yeouido with brand booths, interactive zones, and live entertainment. The main fireworks start at 7 p.m. and continue through the evening with pauses between team segments for music and crowd guidance. To accommodate demand, prime riverbank spaces near Yeouido and Ichon fill early, and city officials encourage visitors to plan arrivals and departures carefully to avoid peak congestion.

Why did the date change this year?

The festival traditionally lands on the first Saturday of October. In 2025, the date moved to late September because the Chuseok holiday occurs during the first week of October, when large family travel and public holiday traffic are already intense. Moving the event off the holiday week reduces overlap with nationwide travel patterns and helps city services focus on one major operation at a time.

How the mirrored fireworks will work

Engineers are debuting a decalcomania effect, a mirrored display that treats the Han River as a central axis. Identical sequences fire in sync from multiple launch sites around Wonhyo Bridge, expanding toward Mapo Bridge and the Hangang Railway Bridge. When executed correctly, the same burst types, colors, and heights appear on opposite sides of the bridge within milliseconds, aligning to the same musical time code. The approach widens sightlines, so spectators beyond the traditional core can see the same highlights, even from areas that once sat outside the best angles.

Mirrored shows demand precise timing and robust safety buffers. Each firing position uses digital controllers linked to a master clock that also cues the soundtrack. Safety distances are mapped so that fallout from large shells lands in controlled zones on the water or in cleared areas on shore. If wind shifts, on site teams can pause launch segments while keeping the music timeline ready to resume. These are the quiet mechanics behind what feels effortless to the audience.

Where to watch the mirrored effect

Sightlines improve across a broad arc that includes Yeouido, Ichon, Noryangjin, and parts of Mapo District. Close up immersion remains strongest on the Yeouido side. For panoramic views, hilltop spots such as N Seoul Tower on Namsan and Bugak Skyway can frame the skyline and bridges in a single sweep. Capacity controls apply in some areas, and access can change in real time based on crowd levels.

Program highlights and musical storytelling

Italy opens with a tribute to Ennio Morricone, whose film music pairs elegantly with aerial shells that blossom and fade on long notes. Expect delicate gold willows, strobing comet runs, and layered timings that ride Morricone’s suspense lines. Canada follows with a superhero flavored set. Big percussion and heroic leitmotifs usually match rapid volleys, chases that sprint along the water, and aerial fans that sweep across the skyline in bold primaries. Korea’s finale, Into the Shining Time, weaves a time travel concept that moves from quiet reflection to high tempo celebration. The creative team has described a Golden Hour motif, a warm color palette and evolving shapes that track the passage of time, closing with high altitude salvos designed to fill the width of the river corridor.

Modern pyromusicals run on a time code that locks each firing cue to the soundtrack down to hundredths of a second. Computerized firing systems reduce timing drift, and shells are selected for burn durations that suit the musical phrasing. A compact salute of single bursts can punctuate drum hits, while large multi break shells bloom across several measures. The result feels like live choreography, even though every cue was calculated and rehearsed in advance.

Safety, staffing, and crowd management

City offices and Hanwha are scaling up operations for a larger footprint. More than 3,700 safety and crowd control staff will be on duty, including about 1,200 Hanwha employee volunteers. Hanwha says 3.13 billion won is dedicated to safety management this year, covering staffing, gear, and monitoring. A smart control system known as Orange Safety analyzes telecom data to visualize crowd density in real time, and 24 CCTV cameras watch choke points to guide dispersal when needed. The city plans 90 temporary toilets, extra waste bins, and post event cleanup teams at Yeouido and Ichon Hangang parks. Medical personnel, ambulances, and mobile situation rooms will stand by, and a joint command post brings together district offices, police, and fire units for rapid response. Yeongdeungpo District will deploy 325 people across safety, traffic control, cleaning, and medical support, while Mapo District plans staff at designated hotspots including Seonyudo Park and Bamseom Park with additional patrols. Emergency text alerts can be used to prevent overcrowding in sensitive corridors.

Kim Tae-hee, who heads Seoul’s culture bureau, framed the priority this way.

For the past 20 years, the Seoul International Fireworks Festival has lit up the fall sky and become one of the city’s iconic events. We will mobilize all administrative resources to ensure that this year’s festival concludes safely.

Road closures and transit changes you need to know

On Saturday, Yeouidong ro will be closed from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. between the southern end of Mapo Bridge and the 63 Building. The Hangang Bus service will be suspended for the public that day. Nineteen bus routes that normally cross Yeouido will detour in the afternoon, and 15 routes across Hangang Bridge will pass without stopping during the preshow window. After the display, the city will concentrate service on 26 bus routes between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. at hubs such as Yeouido Transfer Center, Yeouido Station, and Yeouinaru Station. Parking will not be available at the venue area.

Subway service expands for the rush. Line 5 will add 18 trains and Line 9 will add 62. Yeouinaru Station, the closest stop to the riverfront, may close some exits or be skipped during peak congestion. Plan alternative stations in advance such as Yeouido Station, Mapo Station, Saetgang Station, or Dangsan Station, and follow on site guidance when platforms reach capacity. The city also plans taxi restrictions on Hangang Bridge and has asked drivers to avoid pick up and drop off on bridges with river views. Bike share and personal mobility rentals in high density zones across Yeouido, Mapo, Yongsan, and Dongjak will be paused from the evening of September 26 until the morning of September 28.

Smart routing for arrival and exit

Arrive well before sunset if you want a riverfront spot. Expect controlled entry to popular lawns once they reach capacity. When heading home, consider walking to a less crowded station before entering gates. Keep your group together and set a meeting point in case phones lose signal temporarily.

• Use Yeouido Station on Line 5 or Line 9 when Yeouinaru is closed or skipped.
• Use Mapo Station on Line 5 for the north bank near Mapo Bridge.
• Use Saetgang Station on Line 9 for western Yeouido access.
• Use Dangsan Station on Lines 2 and 9, then walk across local streets to avoid the riverfront crush.

Carry a transit card with credit loaded to speed gate entry, follow signage and staff direction, and avoid stopping at choke points on bridges and stairs. If conditions change, announcements will guide crowds to safer exits or temporary road crossings.

Viewing zones, seating packages, and access notes

The festival is free to watch from public spaces, although reserved seating packages have been created for comfort and crowd control. Foreign visitor packages sold through partners such as Klook and Trazy include assigned seats near the river and ticket pickup at 280, Yeouidong ro in Yeongdeungpo. Ticket booths typically operate from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and entry to seating zones closes once capacity is reached. Many offers are limited to non Korean passport holders and require passport verification at pickup.

VISITKOREA and E Land Cruise have promoted limited invitation events that provide reserved seating from the cruise dock at Yeouido. Separately, the city invited 50 large families to view the show from the Hangang Bus as a special program, while the bus does not run for the public on festival day. If you plan to use a package, arrive early for verification and line management. For non ticketed viewing, Yeouido and Ichon riverbanks deliver the most immersive scale. For distance views, N Seoul Tower and the Bugak ridge offer cinematic cityscapes. This year, Nodeul Island is designated as a companion island for invited families from culturally marginalized groups, and general access is restricted during the show.

Scalping concerns and the scramble for prime views

The rush for vantage points has fueled a side market. Posts on secondhand platforms have offered to hold picnic spots for a fee, sell free tickets at high markups, and even rent out balcony time in apartments facing the river. Offers reported this week ranged from tens of thousands of won for a mat spot to several hundred thousand won for balcony access. Some cafe seats with direct river views reportedly sold out fast, then appeared again at higher prices. Hotel rooms with Han River views have also seen strong demand ahead of the weekend.

Hanwha says ticket scalping is illegal and that IDs will be checked at official seating zones. Organizers have asked resale platforms to remove posts connected to unlawful transactions and have warned that illegally traded tickets can be canceled. City officials also plan crackdowns on illegal vending and unauthorized occupations of public space around the riverfront.

Tips for a safer and smoother night

• Use public transportation and expect detours and temporary closures near the river.
• Arrive early for a riverside spot, then stay aware of staff instructions and one way footpaths.
• Choose an alternative station for departure, such as Yeouido, Mapo, Saetgang, or Dangsan.
• Pack light, bring water, a portable battery, and a light jacket as the river breeze can turn cool after dark.
• Set a meeting point for your group in case phones become slow in crowded zones.
• Respect no entry lines, do not climb barriers, and keep stairways and bridge walkways clear.
• Avoid drones and laser pointers, which are prohibited for safety.
• Carry a small trash bag and use the additional bins. Help the cleanup by taking your waste with you if bins are full.
• Look for temporary toilets and first aid tents at Yeouido and Ichon Hangang parks.
• Check the last train times and leave early if traveling a long distance.

What to Know

• Date and venue: Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Yeouido Hangang Park.
• Showtime: fireworks begin at 7 p.m., with team segments through the evening.
• Teams: Italy, Canada, and Korea, with Korea’s finale titled Into the Shining Time.
• New feature: mirrored fireworks around Wonhyo Bridge across an east west span from Mapo Bridge to the Hangang Railway Bridge.
• Expected crowd: more than one million spectators across both riverbanks.
• Road closure: Yeouidong ro closed 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Hangang Bus service suspended.
• Transit boosts: 18 extra trains on Line 5 and 62 on Line 9, bus detours and added late trips between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
• Station advisory: Yeouinaru Station may be skipped or have exits closed during peak congestion.
• Access note: Nodeul Island used for invited families, general access restricted.
• Operations: about 3,700 safety staff on duty, 90 temporary toilets and expanded cleanup in place.