“Prime viewing spot, 200,000 won”: Resale market grows for fireworks festival spaces in Yeouido

Empty picnic mats covered sections of the grass at Yeouido Han River Park one day before Seoul’s World Fireworks Festival, with some viewing spots advertised online for 200,000 won. One seller said the space could fit two adults lying down and had no obstruction, adding that the seller was staying overnight to guard it.

The practice of claiming prime spaces for resale has returned this year as the festival prepares to draw about one million people. Seoul and event organizer Hanwha have struggled to find an effective response because the park is public property and there is no clear legal basis for penalizing people who leave mats unattended.

On the morning of Sept. 4, the lawns south of Mapo Bridge and Wonhyo Bridge were crowded with mats secured by bags, clothing and large tent pins. Seoul’s Future Hangang Project Headquarters posted signs banning unattended space claims and announced that mats left without people would be collected and removed from noon on Sept. 5.

Online listings also offered parking passes for buildings around Yeouido, Noryangjin and Dangsan, generally priced between 5,000 and 30,000 won for a day. Apartment management offices in Yeouido reportedly banned visitor vehicles during the festival and asked residents to avoid registering friends’ cars for parking.

Police will deploy about 4,700 officers over Sept. 4 and 5 for crowd safety and emergency calls. On the main day, vehicles will be barred from Yeouidong-ro between the southern end of Mapo Bridge and the 63 Building from 3 p.m. to midnight, except for selected resident and event vehicles. Yeouinaru Station trains will pass without stopping from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., with the measure potentially starting earlier depending on conditions. Police plan to direct departing crowds toward several nearby stations.

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I drove from Hanam with my family before dawn to watch the eve event today and the main event tomorrow.