Bus boardings near Nodeul Station up 167% from three weeks prior; performances, fashion show and yoga planned for Hangul Day holiday weekend

A scene from the Seoul Lights Han River Light Island Festival at Nodeul Island in Seoul. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]
A scene from the Seoul Lights Han River Light Island Festival at Nodeul Island in Seoul. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]

The Seoul Lights Han River Light Island Festival, held at Nodeul Island, has drawn strong crowds since its opening. About 300,000 visitors attended in the first four days alone. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said events including performances, a fashion show and yoga sessions will continue through the Hangul Day holiday weekend from Friday through Sunday.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, approximately 299,000 people visited Nodeul Island from Friday through Monday. Now in its fourth year, the Light Island Festival is a nighttime media art festival combining the Han River's waterfront scenery with light installations. Previous editions were held at Seorae Island in 2023, Yeouido in 2024 and Ttukseom Han River Park last year; this year's edition has moved to Nodeul Island.

This year's highlights include large-scale light works such as "Firmament" by Italian artist duo Quiet Ensemble, "Overlapping Immersion" by Taiwanese artist Aka Chang, and "Ripple."

"Firmament" projects lasers onto a 30-meter-long, 10-meter-wide structure to create a constellation-like scene. The installation has proven particularly popular, at one point drawing a waiting line of more than 600 visitors.

"Shining Nodeul Willows," which bathes the Han River bank's willow trees in light, and "Pavilion of Light," which uses smog and soap bubbles, also drew large crowds.

Public transit use surged during the festival period. Boardings and alightings at Nodeul Station and nearby bus stops reached about 125,000 from Friday through Monday — a 167 percent increase compared with the same days three weeks earlier, Sept. 11–14, when the figure stood at about 47,000.

Particularly notable was the jump at the two bus stops near Nodeul Island, where ridership rose nearly sixfold from about 10,000 to 60,000 over the same period. Boardings and alightings at Nodeul Station also climbed from about 15,000 to 35,000.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has linked the festival to nearby neighborhood commercial districts, aiming to boost visitor convenience while also stimulating local businesses. Discount promotions are running in the Mannaro commercial district in Noryangjin, and 12 designated restaurants in the Sinyongsan district are offering a 10 percent discount to visitors who follow and like the festival's official SNS account.

To encourage public transit use, four shuttle buses will run every 15 minutes between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. throughout the festival, connecting Sinyongsan Station, Nodeul Island, Nodeul Station and Noryangjin Station.

The festival's final holiday stretch — the Hangul Day weekend from Friday through Sunday — will feature lectures, performances, a fashion show and yoga. Friday's lineup includes a science lecture titled "Light Island Lecture," a fashion show by a university student fashion association, and performances by musical actor Choi Jeong-won and singer Shawn. On Saturday, brand consultant Noh Hee-young and Sungkyunkwan University Professor Kim Beom-su will give lectures, followed by a performance by rapper Coogie. On Sunday, bass-baritone Ahn Se-kwon and singer Bumkey will take the stage.

Choi In-gyu, design policy director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said the Light Island Festival is establishing itself as the city's signature nighttime festival for enjoying the Han River's night scenery and light art. "We will develop it into a festival that also benefits the local economy by linking it with nearby commercial districts," he said.


ken@heraldcorp.com