"Planning to Propose, What Should I Do?" Han River View Hotel Fully Booked for Fireworks Festival Held After 3 Years

Seoul World Fireworks Festival on the 8th Next Month
120 on Waiting List at Fairmont Seoul
Glad Mapo Fully Booked
Han River View Hotels Hit Peak Season

Prices Soar as Demand Surges
Conrad Seoul Has No Room Rates Set
Premium Trades on Secondhand Platforms

Seoul Dragon City and the fireworks festival scenery.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] Office worker Park Sooyoung (33) is checking posts on secondhand trading platforms several times a day to book a hotel for the Seoul International Fireworks Festival, which will be held on the 8th of next month. He said, "I planned to propose to my girlfriend at the hotel on the day of the fireworks festival, but it's not easy to book a 'fireworks view' room," adding, "I'm willing to pay extra on secondhand trading platforms to get a room."

The Seoul International Fireworks Festival, held for the first time in three years since COVID-19, has become a peak season with most nearby hotels in Yeouido, Mapo, and Yongsan fully booked. Some hotels are delaying setting their prices as demand rises, leading to criticism that prices are being set arbitrarily.

According to the hotel industry on the 16th, based on hotel reservation sites, Han River view rooms at Yeouido Fairmont Ambassador Seoul, Conrad Seoul, and Glad Mapo for the fireworks festival on the 8th of next month are sold out. The waiting list for Fairmont Ambassador Seoul exceeded 120 people as of that day. A Glad representative said, "The fireworks festival package was opened less than a week ago, but all rooms have been booked." Yongsan Seoul Dragon City also recorded over 50% reservation rate within a day of releasing its Han River view one-night package. A Dragon City representative stated, "Rooms were fully booked within three days of the package launch."

Prices are also soaring. The basic room price per night at Fairmont Ambassador Seoul for Saturdays next month is in the 500,000 KRW range, but on the festival Saturday, it jumped about 100,000 KRW to the 600,000 KRW range. Novotel Suites Ambassador Seoul Yongsan's rooms rose from the 400,000 KRW range to 500,000 KRW. Some places have yet to set room prices. Conrad Seoul plans to sell some Han River view rooms on a first-come, first-served basis to customers who book by phone, but the room prices are undecided. A hotel industry insider pointed out, "It seems they are monitoring the surging demand before setting prices." Three years ago, during the festival, Conrad offered rooms priced between 500,000 and 600,000 KRW at over 1,000,000 KRW.

Considering this situation, some have started 'betting' by pre-booking multiple hotels months in advance, referencing previous festival dates before the official date was announced. Kim, who succeeded in booking hotels in Yongsan and Yeouido to enjoy the fireworks festival with family, said, "I booked both Yeouido and Yongsan hotels five months ago based on previous festival dates," adding, "Once I decide on a room, I plan to transfer the other booking. I think I can sell it at a higher price." As demand to attend even at a premium grows, accommodation vouchers have appeared on secondhand trading platforms. Posts have appeared offering packages including a stay at Fairmont Ambassador Seoul and breakfast on the day for 620,000 KRW, the same as the official price.

Although the fireworks-like booking frenzy is a boon, the hotel industry is responding cautiously. Not all Han River view rooms guarantee the same view. Currently, Conrad notifies customers in advance that "the fireworks may not be fully visible." In fact, in 2018, there was a case where a refund was issued after complaints that the view was blocked by a building under construction. A hotel industry official said, "Demand is exploding after three years, but with new buildings like Park One in Yeouido, a perfect view cannot be guaranteed," adding, "We are preparing for various situations by notifying customers in advance."

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