The vibrant fireworks that lit up the night sky in Seoul have faded, but a different scene remains at Han River Park, where citizens have left behind a significant amount of litter.
The '2026 Seoul World Fireworks Festival,' held on September 5 at Yeouido Han River Park, concluded without major incidents, with organizers estimating around 1 million attendees.
However, the aftermath of the festival starkly contrasted with the dazzling display. The grassy areas where spectators had gathered were littered with plastic bottles, cans, cardboard boxes, and plastic bags. Discarded disposable mats and leftover food were also found, with some trash even thrown into flower beds and bushes.
Additionally, litter was spotted along the roads just a few minutes' walk from Han River Park, with reports of cigarette butts and cans left near nearby apartments and schools.
Online, critical reactions have emerged regarding the situation. Many netizens questioned, "Is it really that difficult to take back what you brought?" and pointed out the inconsistency of waiting hours for fireworks while neglecting to carry out a single trash bag. Others expressed confusion over why attendees could carry heavy food and mats but left behind empty bottles and trash.
Some voices emphasized the need to consider the workers responsible for cleaning up after the event. Comments included, "Do people think that cleaners or volunteers will take care of it all?" and "The mindset that someone else will clean up needs to change." There was also strong criticism of those who hid trash in less visible areas, such as behind trees or streetlights.
Netizens remarked, "If you can't find a trash can, hiding it in a spot where it won't be seen is even more problematic," and urged people to think about who would have to retrieve the trash the next day.
Parents who attended the festival with children raised educational concerns, stating, "If you brought your kids to see the fireworks, showing them how to clean up afterward is part of the lesson," and questioned how parents could teach public order while leaving trash behind.
Another persistent issue at the fireworks festival, known as 'seat saving,' was also linked to the litter problem. The Seoul city government implemented measures this year to crack down on the practice of leaving mats or tents unattended for extended periods, resulting in 107 violations being reported during the pre-festival and main event. Some resale platforms were found to be charging between 250,000 to 600,000 won for mats under the guise of free giveaways.
The problem is that some of these reserved mats and items became trash after the event. Netizens criticized, "If you take a free spot in the park and charge others while leaving behind trash, that's the worst," and argued that items used for seat saving should be removed immediately.
In response, suggestions have emerged among netizens for more large trash collection points in viewing areas, distributing trash bags for free at the event, and announcing a 'one-minute cleanup' at the end of the festival. Some have proposed establishing large recycling stations for sorting trash, similar to those at festivals abroad, with volunteers to assist in proper disposal.
However, others pointed out that regardless of the systems implemented, the issue cannot be fully resolved if individuals do not take responsibility for their own waste.
The festival lights up the night sky for about an hour. Yet, after the fireworks end, someone must spend the night picking up plastic bottles, cleaning food residue from the grass, and retrieving trash thrown deep into the bushes.
As the Seoul World Fireworks Festival continues to create beautiful memories for countless people each year, there are calls for not only the scale of the event but also the post-event cleanup to reach a world-class standard.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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