Oh dear… it's already sold out~ Competition was fierce because I listed it a bit cheap….
On the morning of 24th, a message was sent to the person who posted "Yeouido World Fireworks Festival prime spot lending" the previous day on a secondhand platform, and this was the reply. The poster said they would charge 490,000 won to lend an apartment along the Hangang in Dongjak District, Seoul, for 1 hour and 30 minutes on the evening of the fireworks festival on 27th. They also wrote, "Don't shiver out in the cold on the pavement. Please enjoy properly and comfortably this romantic festival that comes only once a year."
However, it appears this does not involve lending the entire home. The poster said they were "lending the veranda," and wrote, "To allow you to spend private time, we will also draw a curtain between the living room and the veranda so you won't be seen." When asked whether it was a dwelling rented out via Airbnb or a place they live in themselves, the poster did not respond.
◇ Admission tickets given out for free, traded for up to 300,000 won per ticket
Hanwha and the Seoul Metropolitan Government will host the "Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2025" at Yeouido Hangang Park in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, from 7 p.m. on 27th. This year as well, more than 1 million spectators were expected to attend the event.
The fireworks festival can basically be viewed for free at places like Yeouido Hangang Park. Hanwha Life gave out "golden tickets" to 400 people for free, providing admission to prime viewing spots. In addition, Hanwha distributed paper admission tickets to employees of affiliates and partner companies.
These admission tickets are being transacted on secondhand platforms. If you search for "fireworks festival" on one platform, several posts offer paper admission tickets for sale. Prices vary, including 120,000 won, 200,000 won, and 300,000 won per ticket.
There is also a post saying that for 25,000 won you can park in a nearby building and use the soccer field next to Noryangjin Fish Market, which has a good view of the fireworks. The poster said, "Watch comfortably on soft artificial turf," and, "If you pay 25,000 won, we will register your license plate with the parking lot." Another post says they will hold a prime spot with a picnic mat at Bamseom Park, where the fireworks can be seen well, for just 70,000 won.
Hanwha is informing people on the official fireworks festival website that scalping is illegal. It also said, "We strictly manage this by checking IDs at the venue entrance and canceling tickets traded illegally."
A Hanwha official said, "We also sent an official letter to secondhand platforms such as Karrot and Junggonara to block ticket scalping transactions, and we are directly messaging sellers to have posts taken down."
◇ 200,000-won seats at a Starbucks on the river listed for 300,000 won
Scalping is occurring even without official event admission tickets. Starbucks Korea will operate its Yeouido Hangang Park store by reservation from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on 27th. Starbucks sold Han River view seats for 200,000 won for two people, limited-view seats for 150,000 won, and Yeouido Park views for 100,000 won. Reservations opened at 9 a.m. on 22nd, but all seats sold out within an hour.
In response, on the same day, a post appeared on the secondhand platform Karrot offering to sell a "200,000-won seat for 300,000 won." The poster wrote, "Golden view! Watch the fireworks live."
Online, some reacted that the cost-effectiveness was "not bad," because nearby hotels known as "prime spots for fireworks" can cost more than 1 million won.
To stay on 27th at the Conrad Seoul in Yeouido with a Han River view, the cheapest "deluxe room" costs 1.7 million won. The penthouse is sold out, and the "premium corner suite" is being sold for 4.04 million won. A week later, on Oct. 4, an "executive room" can be booked for about 1.02 million won.
Other nearby hotels show a similar pattern. At one Yeouido hotel, a deluxe room can be booked for about 200,000 won on Oct. 4, but it costs 400,000 won on 27th. Rooms at a Mapo District hotel with a Han River view cost 700,000 won on 27th but can be booked for 500,000 won on Oct. 4.
Even so, some are unable to secure rooms, and posts are appearing on secondhand platforms asking to take over hotel reservations. One poster offered 1 million won, saying, "Buying a hotel stay in a prime fireworks spot in Yeouido on 27th."