"65 Million Won for a Cafe Window, 400,000 Won for a Lawn Spot"... 'No Way to Stop' Outrageous Prime Spot Selling

Even Free Hangang Park Spots Become Commodities

Starbucks Viewing Passes More Than Double in Price

From Tickets to Hotels, Living Rooms, Parking Spots, and Picnic Mats—Everything Is Up for Trade

In the lead-up to the 'Seoul World Fireworks Festival 2026,' which will be held on the 5th in the Yeouido Hangang Park area, scalping and the trading of prime fireworks viewing spots are rampant. Paid tickets, originally priced at 110,000 to 220,000 won, are now being listed for up to 500,000 won on the secondhand market. This so-called 'seat business' has spread even to spaces in Hangang Park that are meant to be free, with some being bought and sold for several hundred thousand won.

Ahead of the 'Seoul World Fireworks Festival 2026' to be held on the 5th at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul, scalping and seat trading around the so-called 'prime fireworks viewing spots' are rampant. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Seoul World Fireworks Festival, hosted by Hanwha, will take place on the 5th in the Yeouido Hangang Park area. This year, Hanwha offered 'Golden Tickets' to 400 people by lottery, with each receiving two tickets. The entire Nodeul Island will be operated as a paid viewing area known as the 'Orange Play Zone.' The Orange Play Zone has around 700 seats, and ticket prices range from 110,000 to 220,000 won depending on the section.

However, as the event date approaches, prices on online secondhand marketplaces have surged. On September 2, a post was spotted on Danggeun Market selling an entry ticket to the Orange Play Zone for 500,000 won. This is more than twice the price of the most expensive official ticket, and more than four times the lowest price of 110,000 won.

Vouchers to use surrounding facilities with a view of the fireworks have also become targets for premium resale.

This year, the Starbucks Yeouido Hangang Park branch sold 27 two-person viewing packages for the fireworks festival. Depending on the extent of the river view, prices were set at 200,000 won or 300,000 won. However, all packages sold out within just 30 seconds of sales opening. Afterward, posts appeared in the secondhand market offering these packages for 650,000 won, while buyers offered up to 500,000 won to purchase them.

Even Free Hangang Park Spaces Turned Into 'Products'

What has sparked even greater controversy is the practice of charging money for spaces in Hangang Park, which is free for anyone to use. On the 3rd, a post appeared on an online secondhand trading platform selling a 'prime spot' in Yeouido Hangang Park for 400,000 won. The seller first occupies the prime spot and then transfers it to the buyer. Conversely, there was even a post stating, "I'll pay 300,000 won if you hold this spot for me until 5 p.m.," which drew 99 applicants. Other posts offered between 39,000 and 50,000 won for someone to hold a spot on their behalf.

What has sparked even greater controversy is the practice of charging money for spaces in the Hangang Park, which is free for anyone to use. On the 3rd, a post appeared on an online secondhand trading platform selling a "prime spot" in Yeouido Hangang Park for 400,000 won. The seller first occupies the prime spot and then transfers it to the buyer. The Asia Business Daily

Some sellers are reported to be securing spots by placing mats and belongings or staying at the site in person from the day before the festival. What was once simply a matter of 'staking a claim' has now grown into a situation where prime positions in public spaces are traded as commodities. This behavior has drawn public criticism. In an interview with Channel A, one citizen pointed out that securing a spot for money "could be a nuisance to other festivalgoers." Last year, scenes of mats left out long-term without anyone present prompted online criticism such as, "How is this different from reserving a parking space by leaving your belongings in a public garage?" and "Such actions should be regulated."

Hotel Prices Reach into the Millions... The 'Fireworks Premium' Spreads Across Yeouido

The fireworks festival phenomenon has spread to the accommodation and venue rental markets. On secondhand trading platforms, posts have emerged offering rental of indoor spaces near Mapo Bridge with a fireworks view, as well as listings seeking to resell hotel accommodations in Yongsan and Yeouido at a premium. On the day of the event, some hotel rooms with a Han River view are reported to fetch between 2 million and 3 million won, with some reaching as high as 6 million won. There are even cases in which individuals offer private spaces such as apartment living rooms as short-term rentals to view the fireworks—turning the 'fireworks view' itself into a marketable short-term commodity.

What is problematic is that, regardless of the moral controversy, most of these transactions are difficult to regulate directly under current anti-scalping laws. With the revised Public Performance Act and National Sports Promotion Act taking effect on August 28, regulations on scalping for performances and sports events have been greatly strengthened. Any unfair purchase that circumvents or interferes with a fair buying process for resale purposes, regardless of macro usage, is now prohibited. Habitual or business-scaled reselling at a price higher than the original without the seller's consent is also banned. Violators may be fined up to 50 times the transaction amount, or face up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won.

Citizens waiting for the event at Yeouido Hangang Park, where the 2022 Seoul International Fireworks Festival was held. The Asia Business Daily

However, the Seoul World Fireworks Festival is not directly subject to these regulations. Under the Public Performance Act, the law applies to 'artistic performances' such as music, dance, theater, and musicals, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism maintains that fireworks festivals are not classified as performances under the current law, making it difficult to apply anti-scalping measures. Movie tickets or hotel bookings also do not fall under the category of reportable scalping related to performances or sports events.

In particular, the act of occupying a free Hangang Park spot and then selling it for money is even more ambiguous. Legal experts note that while it’s possible to apply rules regarding public property or ordinances from local governments to cases in which a public space is monopolized for private transaction, in reality, it is difficult to prove a transaction actually took place, and there are almost no cases of penalties having been imposed, so practical enforcement is very limited.

Citizens who watched the 2022 Seoul International Fireworks Festival are waiting for buses to return home. The Asia Business Daily

Meanwhile, both the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Hanwha have taken action. First, the Seoul Metropolitan Government issued official letters to secondhand trading platforms such as Danggeun Market and Junggonara requesting the removal and restraint of posts related to fireworks festival tickets or the trading of viewing spots. On site, banners will be put up urging people to refrain from excessive staking out of spaces with mats and belongings, and outreach efforts will be made. The festival’s operating office is likewise requesting the deletion and monitoring of listings that offer invitations or tickets for resale on secondhand platforms. However, the Seoul Metropolitan Government also lacks the clear legal authority to directly crack down on spot trading between individuals under current law, limiting these measures to recommendations rather than enforcement.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.