The Moment a Million People Looked in the Same Direction

Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2023

created: 2023.10.07. 16:05 · modified: 2023.10.09. 08:14 ·  · license

This post was automatically translated and has not yet been reviewed by me. Please read with discretion.

I have one more reason to love Seoul.

Today’s fireworks felt like they were comforting me. I’d always thought comfort couldn’t change my circumstances, and that ultimately I was the one who had to change. Besides, I’d never imagined fireworks could comfort me.

Was it my up-and-down mood today? The sound, which felt more resonant than last year? Or was I simply exhausted from playing so much soccer? Probably the last one. I should finish writing this and get to bed.

This was my second time watching, after last year. Once again, what I liked most was that it left me wanting for nothing. Other fireworks shows, like performances by top-tier idols at university festivals, leave me thinking, “That’s it?” But here, just when I thought, “Is it over? Well, that was plenty,” the fireworks would burst out again, often even more intensely. It happened several times. So I never feel disappointed when it’s time to turn away and go home.

I don’t think all the other fireworks shows I’ve seen combined could measure up to the Seoul International Fireworks Festival. They might not even measure up to a single year of it. I assumed a show like this would naturally rank among the world’s top fireworks festivals, but when I looked it up, it seems even the Busan Fireworks Festival is bigger in scale? I guess I still have a lot to see when it comes to fireworks. The Busan festival is in a month—should I go?

The fireworks are as varied as they are grand. Even the movements of individual fireworks differ: free fall / drifting slowly downward / hovering in midair / shooting off in various directions. The shapes they form are more varied still: a sphere of one color / a sphere with different colors inside and out / a ring around a sphere / a waterfall / a dragon (hovering in midair) / a flower / a star / a smiley face / a heart / a smiley face turning into a heart.

Oh, and they added a cat! I don’t remember seeing that last year.

It must be hard to control which way shaped fireworks, like the smiley faces, are facing when they burst. So they look like this:

But that was last year, when I watched from the front near Yeouinaru. This year I was north of the river and a little off to the side, so

they looked all squished like this, haha.

I watched from north of the river this time because I’d been playing soccer at Hyochang Stadium just beforehand. The fireworks started going off toward the end of the third quarter. The stadium sits on somewhat elevated ground, so I’d secretly hoped I could watch from there, but I could barely see the tips of the fireworks between the buildings. It wasn’t really a place to watch the show. So as soon as the game ended, I rushed out toward the river. The Korean team’s show was originally scheduled to start right when our game ended, but thanks to a slight delay, I don’t think I missed much.

The view was actually best when bus 0411 rounded the traffic circle at the north end of Wonhyo Bridge, but I couldn’t get off there. Instead, I walked to the entrance to Seongchon Park (37.5302N 126.9532E) and watched from there. It was very close. I measured the delay between the light and sound (heh), and it came to 2.3 seconds. Taking the height of the fireworks into account, that means I was within about 600–700 meters of them.

The pedestrian overpass and buildings blocked part of my view, but what overwhelmed me was the sound. It was incredibly loud. At the final climax, the sound of the mass of red fireworks went beyond awe-inspiring—it was almost frightening. Yesterday gave me a new rule for watching fireworks: get close, even if it means sacrificing some of the view. The thunderous sound fills your chest. It’s like watching a rocket launch in person. A video might have a better angle, but the one thing it can never capture is the sound.

The explosions don’t sound quite as good in the official replay, but it includes the background music I couldn’t hear on-site. That’s why I watched almost the whole thing, from start to finish. DAY6’s “Feeling Good” at 05:50 is especially legendary.

Anyway, I’m deeply grateful to Hanwha for bringing us this joy every year. I want to build a company that has the capacity to contribute to society, beyond simply making a profit.

See you again next year, Seoul fireworks!