Pohang International Fireworks Festival Cancels 'Main Fireworks Show' for Public Safety Due to Heavy Rain Advisory

Heavy Rain Advisory Issued... Nighttime Programs Inevitably Canceled for Public Safety
Around 800 Citizens Participate... Positive Response to Firelight Street Parade and Light Artway

The 2025 Pohang International Fireworks Festival, embodying the identity of Pohang as the "City of Fire and Light," was hosted by Pohang City and organized by the Pohang Cultural Foundation. The festival began on June 14 with the Pohang Canal Lightway and was held through June 20 at the main venue, the Hyeongsangang Sports Park area.

Pohang International Fireworks Festival Cancels Main Fireworks Show for Citizen Safety Due to Heavy Rain Advisory.

This year's festival, under the slogan "A Clear Era! A Shining Everyday!", had prepared large-scale performances. However, on the day of the event, a heavy rain advisory (forecasting 60mm or more of rainfall in 3 hours or 110mm or more in 12 hours) was issued across Pohang. As a result, after the parade, the main nighttime programs?including stage performances, the international fireworks show, and the drone light show?were canceled for visitor safety.

A city official stated, "We are deeply saddened and sincerely apologize to citizens and visitors for the unavoidable suspension of the event due to unexpected weather conditions," adding, "We ask for your understanding, as the decision was made with safety as the top priority, and we express our gratitude to everyone who maintained order until the end."

Although the main nighttime programs scheduled for June 21 were canceled, on June 20, stage performances and the "Daily Fireworks Show" proceeded as planned, allowing visitors to enjoy fireworks illuminating the night sea of Pohang.

Additionally, the "Firelight Street Parade" held on the afternoon of June 21 saw the participation of about 800 citizens, further fueling the festival's excitement.

In preparation for changing weather conditions, Pohang City had proactively established a joint comprehensive situation room with related agencies, managed traffic and parking, set up emergency response systems, and conducted maritime safety checks before the event.

However, after the heavy rain advisory was issued, concerns over visitor safety grew due to risks such as the need to use stairs and ramps to access the festival site and partial flooding within the venue. Consequently, the programs were inevitably suspended.

To minimize the economic impact of the festival's cancellation on the local community, the city plans to implement follow-up measures to revitalize local businesses, including small merchants, and to accelerate local economic recovery through various initiatives such as accommodation discount promotions for tourists visiting Pohang.

A city official said, "We organized the festival to serve as a catalyst for stabilizing livelihoods and revitalizing the local economy amid the global steel industry downturn and domestic and international economic contraction. However, it is very disappointing that the main programs were canceled due to worsening weather conditions." The official added, "We are discussing ways to utilize the prepared fireworks and will thoroughly prepare a more substantial fireworks show linked to the APEC Summit scheduled for the second half of the year, so that we can deliver a festival that will increase satisfaction among citizens and tourists."