Local governments are canceling sunset and sunrise events nationwide, which were planned for the end of the year and the new year. This reflects the subdued social atmosphere following the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster at Muan Airport, South Jeolla Province. The government has designated a seven-day national mourning period from the previous day until Jan. 4 of next year.
Mapo District in Seoul announced on the 30th that it would cancel the official events of the “2025 Red Road Countdown Event” planned from 9 p.m. on Dec. 31 to 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 of the new year and the “2025 Sky Park Sunrise Festival” scheduled for Jan. 1. However, to accommodate visitors coming to see the sunrise at Sky Park, they will install beverage booths and rest areas, and have fire trucks and ambulances on standby.
Seodaemun District has canceled the “2025 Sinchon Countdown Concert,” which was scheduled to be held at Star Plaza, Yonsei-ro, Sinchon from 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 to 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1. The “New Year’s Wish Sunrise Event,” planned for the area near Ansan Beacon Mound for sunrise on Jan. 1, has also been canceled. However, to ensure safety for residents climbing the mountain to see the sunrise, safety measures such as installing fences and control lines, separating ascent and descent routes, and deploying ambulances and medical staff will be executed as initially planned.
Gwangjin District canceled the New Year’s sunrise festival that was set to be held at Achasan, a famous “sunrise spot” in Seoul. Songpa District canceled the event planned for watching the year's first sunrise at Mangwol-dong in Olympic Park. Yangcheon District also canceled five planned sunrise events, including one at Yongwangsan.
Dobong District decided not to hold local events or festivals during the national mourning period and canceled the planned New Year's sunrise event on Jan. 1. Gangbuk District has annually held a sunrise event at North Seoul Dream Forest with district residents, but this year it was canceled to share in grief with the bereaved families. Eunpyeong District canceled the “2025 Bongsan Sunrise Festival.”
Events that were to be held at popular East Coast sunrise spots have also been canceled one after another. Pohang City and Pohang Cultural Foundation had planned to hold the “27th Homigot Korean People’s Sunrise Festival” from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 at Homigot Sunrise Park, but all official events have been canceled. Instead, a space for mourning the disaster will be set up at Homigot Sunrise Park. However, large tents and air domes will be installed to provide warmth for tourists coming to see the new year's sunrise.
Gyeongju City canceled the bell-ringing ceremony of Nyeoin Bell scheduled for 11 p.m. on Dec. 31 at Nodong-dong. The Haeryong Festival sunrise event that was to be held on Jan. 1 at the Munmu Daewang area in Munmu Daewang-myeon, Gyeongju, was also canceled. Yeongdeok County and Yeongdeok Culture and Tourism Foundation canceled the Gyeongbuk Daejong bell-ringing ceremony that was scheduled to be held from 10 p.m. on Dec. 31 at Samsa Marine Park in Ganggu-myeon.
Local governments on the west coast, known for sunset spots, also canceled events. Taean County in South Chungcheong Province canceled the planned sunset and sunrise events. Seocheon County also canceled the sunset event that was to be held on the evening of Dec. 31 at Maryangjin Port in Seomyeon, as well as the fireworks and rice cake soup sharing event scheduled for midnight on New Year’s Day.
Buyeo County in South Chungcheong Province also decided to cancel the sunrise event planned for Jan. 1 at Seonghungsan (Galim Fortress) in Imcheon-myeon. Cheonan City canceled all events, including the 2024 year-end event scheduled for Dec. 31, the New Year's sunrise event on Jan. 1, and the New Year’s Day event on Jan. 3.
Sejong City fully canceled the sunrise event that was scheduled to be held at Sejong Lake Park on Jan. 1. The citizen-led festival group also canceled the New Year’s Countdown Drone Show and fireworks show that were to be held from 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 31. Sejong City decided to set up a incense offering altar in front of the city hall plaza on that day.
The “Bare Body Marathon,” held annually on Jan. 1 by SeonYang Soju, a liquor company in the Chungcheong region, near Daejeon Expo Science Park, was also canceled. The event, which started in 2016, involves participants running 7 kilometers along the Gapcheon River in Daejeon wearing only minimal clothing, beginning at 11:11:11 a.m. on Jan. 1.