[Diary Point = Reporter Choi Seung-jin] The 21st Busan Fireworks Festival will be held on November 7 around Gwangalli Beach, Igidae and Dongbaekseom in Busan. With the schedule and paid-seat prices now finalized, visitors planning a weekend outing need to sort out bookings and transportation ahead of time.
Paid seating is divided into R seats (100,000 won), which include a table and chair, and S seats (70,000 won), which are chair-only. Both are set up on the sandy beach in front of Hotel Aquapelis and Homers Hotel in Gwangalli. Busan residents can receive a 10% discount for the first time this year, and each person can book up to four tickets.
Booking deadlines differ by vendor
Regular tickets are sold through NOL Ticket until 5 p.m. on November 6. Online sales via BNK Busan Bank's mobile banking app run until 11:59 p.m. on November 1, while in-person sales at Busan Bank branches continue until close of business on November 5. Note that in-person sales at Busan Bank branches are limited to S seats only.
Discounted tickets for Busan residents can be purchased through NOL Ticket, BNK Busan Bank's mobile banking app, and Busan Bank branches. Buyers should check remaining seats and payment terms on the official booking page before choosing a seat, and should not confuse the already-closed early bird and hotel package sales with regular ticket sales.
The view — and the way home — depends on where you watch
Gwangalli Beach offers a head-on view of Gwangan Bridge and is the festival's signature viewing spot, making it easy to soak up the atmosphere up close — but it's also likely to draw the biggest crowds. For those opting for paid seating, choosing a fixed spot on Gwangalli Beach can help cut down on the hassle of moving around.
Igidae is a coastal viewing area south of Gwangan Bridge, offering fireworks from an angled perspective. Dongbaekseom, located near Haeundae, faces the bridge from the opposite direction, providing a different vantage point than Gwangalli. Both sites are included as official festival viewing areas, though no separate designated free seating has been confirmed there.
Gwangalli is most easily reached via Gwangan Station on Metro Line 2, while Igidae typically requires a bus transfer from Gyeongsung University–Pukyong National University Station. Dongbaekseom can be accessed from Dongbaek Station on Line 2. Rather than planning around parking near the venue, it's safer to decide your starting point and viewing spot first, then map out a public-transit route home.
Traffic controls and tips for families on November 7
According to official traffic notices, Gwangan Bridge will be closed in stages from November 2 to 8. On the day of the event, the upper deck of the bridge will be fully closed starting at 3:30 p.m., and the lower deck from 6:30 p.m., with surrounding roads closed in phases starting at 10 a.m.
Foot traffic around Gwangalli is expected to surge sharply just before the show and again right after it ends, as crowds flood toward stations and bus stops. Families with young children should bring bright outerwear, warm layers and snacks for long waits, and should agree on a meeting point in advance. Checking restroom access and phone battery levels before heading out is also worthwhile.
Paid-seat ticket holders should arrive early to allow time for ticket pickup and entry, while those watching for free should double-check the festival's official website for updated traffic control notices, as access restrictions may shift on site. On festival day, the key is to plan your way home based on the nearest metro station to your viewing spot rather than relying on a car.