Spectacular Displays at Gwangalli Beach, Igidae, and Dongbaekseom on November 15
More Barges on the Water, Multiplex and Catch Ball Harmony Effects
The Busan Fireworks Festival, the city’s flagship global tourism event, is entering its 20th countdown, featuring the largest amount of fireworks in its history.
On November 10, the Busan Metropolitan Government announced that the 20th Busan Fireworks Festival will be held on November 15 at Gwangalli Beach, Igidae, and Dongbaekseom, as part of its efforts to become a global tourism hub in the era of 3 million foreign visitors.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Busan Fireworks Festival is set to deliver the largest-scale show to date. The city has completed upgrades to the Gwangandaegyo Bridge lighting system, enhancing color and resolution so that the scenic lighting will blend seamlessly with the fireworks. Last year’s issues, such as cable damage, have been addressed by introducing redundant lighting equipment and strengthening on-site security.
Approximately 14,000 paid seats will be available, with sales to foreign tourists expected to reach around 5,000 seats, up from 4,400 last year. The festival will consist of three segments, including a special 20th anniversary fireworks show. The number of barges has increased from eight to thirteen, allowing for the largest amount of fireworks ever used. In addition to Gwangalli, both Igidae and Dongbaekseom will feature simultaneous international guest fireworks and Busan multi-fireworks displays on the water.
The first segment will present a musical fireworks show combining G-DRAGON’s “Weaver Mensch” track with AI-generated music. The second segment will feature a guest fireworks show by Japan’s Hibikiya, and the third segment will showcase Hanwha Corporation’s “Twenty Autumns” themed Busan multi-fireworks show. Debuting this year, the “Catch Ball Harmony Fireworks” will be staged as an interactive display between Gwangandaegyo Bridge and the barges.
Measures to ensure public safety have also been strengthened. The city will deploy about 7,000 personnel, including public officials, police, and firefighters, and designate 42 key management zones in Gwangalli and surrounding areas. In the event of crowd congestion, step-by-step crowd control and detour guidance will be implemented, with fences and congestion information vehicles positioned along the beach road to disperse crowds.
Seven emergency medical booths and 31 ambulances will be on standby at the site, and an emergency passageway from the beach to Gwangnam-ro will be secured. After the event, spectators will be guided to exit by zone in sequence, and the city subway will respond to congestion by skipping stops or increasing train frequency.
On the day of the festival, all upper and lower levels of Gwangandaegyo Bridge will be completely closed to traffic starting at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively, and vehicle access to parts of Gwangalli Beach Road will be restricted from 10:00 a.m.
Park Heongjoon, Mayor of Busan, stated, “The safety of our citizens is a value that cannot be compromised under any circumstances,” adding, “We will remain vigilant until every citizen and visitor returns home safely.” He also emphasized, “I hope the Busan Fireworks Festival will elevate Busan’s status as a global tourism hub and mark the beginning of an era with 3 million foreign visitors.”
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