Seoul World Fireworks Festival draws 1 million people amid logistical challenges

The 2026 Seoul World Fireworks Festival, held at Yeouido Hangang Park, drew an estimated 1 million spectators. While the event was a visual success, it faced significant logistical and social challenges.

Crowd management was a major concern. To prevent overcrowding at Yeouinaru Station, authorities implemented non-stop train passes, causing passenger numbers at Yeouido Station to surge by up to 31 times the usual Saturday levels during peak hours. Total commuters across 12 nearby stations increased by nearly 90%.

Post-event issues included massive amounts of litter left behind by attendees, including food waste and plastic, requiring extensive cleanup by volunteers and staff. Additionally, reports surfaced of illegal activities, including a 50-year-old man wearing an electronic monitoring device being arrested for the illegal filming of teenagers at the festival site.

Experts have suggested that future large-scale events should implement capacity limits for viewing areas and better staggered exit strategies to manage the intense congestion and waste.