Mayor Kangdeok Lee Urges Maximum Safety Management at Major Sunrise Spots for Year-End and New Year Crowds
Police, Fire Department, KT, Korea Electric Power Corporation, and Korea Electrical Safety Corporation Mobilize for Joint Response
Pohang City has prioritized safety to protect the moment when the first sunrise of the new year appears.
On December 29, Pohang City held a breakfast meeting with related organizations, presided over by Mayor Kangdeok Lee, to ensure the safe hosting of the 28th Homigot Korean New Year Sunrise Festival.
Pohang City held a breakfast meeting with related organizations on the 29th, chaired by Mayor Kangduk Lee, to ensure the safe hosting of the 28th Homigot Korean New Year Sunrise Festival. Photo by Pohang City
The meeting was attended by the heads of major organizations including Pohang's Southern and Northern Police Stations, Fire Stations, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Korea Electrical Safety Corporation, KT, and Pohang Cultural Foundation. They engaged in in-depth discussions on safety measures for crowd management during the festival and close cooperation strategies.
The participants closely reviewed on-site accident prevention measures in anticipation of large crowds gathering not only at Homigot Sunrise Plaza but also at other popular coastal sunrise spots such as Igari Anchor Observatory and Seondolgot Observatory.
To alleviate traffic congestion and ensure safety, the city will deploy a total of 649 personnel around the event venue and at major intersections. In cooperation with the police, illegal parking and street vendor control will be strengthened, while fire authorities will operate emergency response vehicles and patrols at all times to enable immediate rescue operations in case of an incident.
In addition, to prevent wildfires during the dry winter season, monitoring systems will be reinforced in forest-adjacent areas such as Guryongpo Malbongjae and Daesong Unjesan. A total of 283 wildfire monitors and 55 professional prevention and suppression team members will be stationed at the coast and mountain summits, and firefighting helicopters are on standby for rapid deployment.
This year, in particular, the city has significantly expanded indoor spaces equipped for cold weather, such as TFS tents, for the safety and convenience of visitors compared to last year. An additional temporary parking lot with 300 spaces has also been secured, greatly improving on-site conditions.
Safety fences will be installed along high-risk coastal areas within the event venue, and safety personnel will be intensively deployed to prevent accidents from occurring in the first place.
Mayor Kangdeok Lee stated, "With large crowds expected at sunrise spots to celebrate the New Year, there are serious concerns about traffic congestion and safety incidents, making thorough preparation more important than ever. I urge all related organizations to pool their capabilities and make every effort in safety management so that visitors can welcome a hopeful new year in safety."
The 28th Homigot Korean New Year Sunrise Festival will be held from December 31, 2025, to January 1, 2026, at Homigot Sunrise Plaza and its surrounding area. The festival will welcome tourists from across the country with a variety of programs, including the Daedong Hanmadang, Homigot Beomgut, and a New Year sunrise performance.
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