Seoul international fireworks festival 2011-001

Seoul International Fireworks Festival (

Korean Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula * Korean cuisine * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl **Korean dialects and the Jeju language ** ...

: 서울세계불꽃축제) is an event which shows fireworks in

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

Hanwha , former_name = Korea Explosives Group , type = Public , traded_as = , industry = Conglomorate , founded = , founder = Kim Chong-hee , hq_location_city = Seoul , hq_location_country = South Korea , area_served = Global , key_people = K ...

company. Different countries participate in this event every year. In 2013,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

and

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

worked together. This event was held in 2000 first. It starts at Hangang Park in the evening in October. However, festival was cancelled on 2001, 2006, and 2009. From many countries, there are diverse kinds of fireworks in South Korea. After the festival, it holds a commemorative photo exhibition in the observatory of the 63 building through a fireworks picture contest exhibit.

Introduction

About 100,000 fireworks went off, and more than a million of viewers visited every year. Seoul International Fireworks Festival is the typical festival in Korea. There are about 20,000 visitors at main event hall at Yeoido. Moreover, there are about 100,000 visitors near Wonhyo Bridge, Hangang Bridge, Hangang Park Ichon Area and more places. In total, about 120,000 visitors enjoyed the festival. Generally, each team who participated in Seoul international fireworks festival costs about 200 million won. Including the incidental expense, group Hanhwa spent about more than 1.5 billion won.

Attraction

The main event hall that located in front of the 63 Building is the best place for enjoying the festival. You also can enjoy the sound tracks. However, it will be extremely crowded. Besides, Hangang Park Ichon Area which is located northern extremity end of Hangang and Nodeul Island which is located at the central Hangang Bridge are chosen for great view. However, it is impossible to listen with the sound tracks which is from the main event hall. It is recommended only for taking pictures or avoiding extremely crowded. If you want to avoid crowded or you are with lovers or family, you can get the official tickets from the fireworks event which is proceeding from Hanhwa.

Location

The closest subway station is line 5 Yeouinaru Station. However, the station will be extremely crowded. Therefore, visitors recommended for get off at line 5 Yeouido Station, line 9 Saetgang Station, or line 1 Daebang Station and walk. If visitors want to enjoy the Seoul international fireworks festival at Hangang Park Ichon Area, it is better to get off at line 1 Yongsan Station, line 4 Sinyongsan Station, or Ichon Station. Many visitors enjoy the festival at the opposite side of the main event hall, the Hangang Park Ichon Area. The festival will be crowded with people before it start about 3 hours ago, visitors need to go early to choose the best place to sit.

Criticism

Seoul International Fireworks Festival is held from a private institution, Hanhwa, although there are many festivals that are held from the public institution like

Busan International Fireworks Festival Busan International Fireworks Festival (Korean: 부산국제불꽃축제), held annually in Gwangalli Beach, Busan, South Korea, is one of the most significant fireworks festivals in Asia. Tens of thousands of fireworks and state-of-the-art lase ...

and Pohang International Lights Festival. In 2005, the then mayor of Seoul, Lee Myung-bak, said "It is a really big problem that Seoul City's budget and event progressing are supporting to the event from only a private institution" and he did not attend the opening ceremony of the Seoul International Fireworks Festival that are attended by convention. There are many opinions that it should move the event place to another one or abolish the festival because its purpose for the event is corporate communications and it induces traffic jams in the center of a city and trash problem.

References

External links

{{Festivals in South Korea
Seoul International Fireworks Festival official website, Color Your Life
Festivals in Seoul Yeouido Hanwha Annual events in South Korea 2000 establishments in South Korea Recurring events established in 2000 Fireworks events in Asia Festivals established in 2000