# Seoul International Fireworks Festival

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/seoul-international-fireworks-festival
> Updated: 2026-09-05T21:54:00.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2.

The 2026 Seoul World Fireworks Festival, hosted by Hanwha Group at Yeouido Hangang Park, concluded with an estimated attendance of approximately 1 million people. While the event was noted for its large-scale production and successful safety management, it faced significant challenges regarding public order, transportation, and environmental impact.

Safety measures included a 4.5 billion won investment in management and the deployment of approximately 5,000 personnel. Authorities utilized the ‘Orange Safety’ app and 5G-based CCTV monitoring to manage density. However, crowd management became a major logistical concern; to prevent overcrowding at Yeouinaru Station, authorities implemented non-stop train passes, which caused 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, the festival left behind substantial waste, including food remains, plastic cups, and disposable mats, requiring over 10 trucks of waste to be removed. Social issues also emerged, including 107 instances of ‘seat squatting’ and the arrest of a 50-year-old man wearing an electronic monitoring device for the illegal filming of teenagers at the festival site.

Experts have suggested that future large-scale events may require capacity limits for viewing areas, better staggered exit strategies, and expanded waste disposal facilities to manage intense congestion and environmental impact.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-05: Seoul World Fireworks Festival draws 1 million people amid logistical challenges

The Seoul World Fireworks Festival drew 1 million people, resulting in massive subway congestion, significant littering issues, and reports of illegal filming at the event site.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/seoul-international-fireworks-festival-draws-1-million-spectators

### 2026-08-27: Hanwha to host Seoul International Fireworks Festival on September 5

Hanwha will host the Seoul International Fireworks Festival on September 5 at Yeouido Hangang Park, featuring fireworks teams from South Korea, the US, and the UK.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hanwha-to-host-seoul-international-fireworks-festival-on-september-5

---
Cite as: Seoul International Fireworks Festival. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/seoul-international-fireworks-festival