Posts Related to Secondhand Trading Platforms Keep Appearing
Even Proxy Service Companies Join to Secure Positions
With over one million people expected to gather, competition to secure so-called 'prime spots' is fierce ahead of next month's Seoul World Fireworks Festival.
This year's Seoul World Fireworks Festival will begin with an opening ceremony at 7 p.m. on the 5th of next month at Yeouido Hangang Park, followed by fireworks shows from the Japanese, American, and Korean teams along the Mapo Bridge to Hangang Railroad Bridge area. The festival, organized by Hanwha Group as a social contribution activity since 2000, is one of South Korea's representative festivals attracting over one million spectators.
On secondhand trading platforms, posts seeking places with views of the fireworks festival, offers to transfer parking permits usable during the festival period, and offers to rent apartments with Hangang views for half a day are appearing. One user even offered 300,000 won on a secondhand trading platform, saying, "I want to create family memories."
This user stated, "I am looking for a place where two adults and a four-year-old child can safely watch the festival," adding conditions such as "since the fireworks are the main purpose, the view must not be blocked by buildings and the fireworks above and below must be fully visible."
In addition, online inquiries continue with requests such as "looking for an office or space to watch the fireworks festival" and "please let me know of parking lots near Hangang with good views of the fireworks festival."
High-floor rooms in nearby hotels, renowned as prime spots for viewing the fireworks festival, are already mostly fully booked. For example, at Yeouido C Hotel, the accommodation fee for a Hangang view suite room exceeded 3 million won including taxes. Other rooms were priced about 1.5 to 2 times higher than usual weekend rates.
Reselling reserved accommodations at a premium is also rampant. Since early this month, posts offering to transfer hotel accommodation tickets with Hangang views and 'fireworks view' restaurant dinner seats have been flooding online secondhand trading platforms.
There were also offers to secure good spots for watching the fireworks festival by going to the site early in the morning on behalf of others. Companies providing so-called 'queueing' proxy services for performances, sports events, and the like have also joined these transactions.
Meanwhile, Seoul City has prepared a comprehensive response plan for the expected large crowds at the fireworks festival site on the 5th of next month, including setting up a fire control center and deploying firefighting personnel and rescue teams for water accidents. Ambulances will also be stationed at subway stations expected to be crowded, such as Yeouinaru, Yeouido, and Mapo stations on Line 5, and Saetgang Station on Line 9.
Some raise concerns about air pollution from the fireworks festival. According to data submitted to Shin Bok-ja, a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (People Power Party, Dongdaemun 4), by the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment, fine dust levels measured immediately after the Seoul Fireworks Festival held at Yeouido Hangang Park in October last year were more than ten times higher than the Seoul city average, reaching a 'very bad' level. Councilor Shin said, "Overseas, there are ongoing considerations to switch to laser shows as alternatives due to air pollutants generated by fireworks festivals," adding, "It is necessary to review the sustainability of the Seoul fireworks festival and alternative festival options."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
