At a glance
| Dates | 19–21 Nov 2026Upcoming · Dates and programme from Pohang City via News1 (19 Oct 2026); KTO's Korean festival page (updated 20 Oct 2026) gives the same 19–21 Nov. A city official said this year's festival had been planned for June and was postponed because of the local elections. KTO still shows the 2025 programme and hours (international fireworks by Korea, Canada and Italy, drone light show, Light Art Way, daily fireworks, 14:00–22:00) while it updates the 2026 content; whether a drone show or daily fireworks return in 2026 was not announced. KTO's English page names the 2025 venue, and its Simplified Chinese page gives 20–22 Nov, which is wrong. |
|---|---|
| Hours | Fireworks show 21 Nov 20:00–21:00; other 2026 hours not published (KTO's 14:00–22:00 is carried over from 2025) |
| Admission | Free. KTO lists free entry, and no paid ticket was documented for any edition checked.Entry: Free |
| Venue | Yeongildae Beach and other sites in Pohang경상북도 포항시 북구 해안로 48 (항구동) |
| Nearest station | Pohang Station (KTX) (포항역), Donghae Line (KTX from Seoul Station and Suseo)Not walkable: the station is in Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu, on the edge of the city; take a taxi or city bus to Yeongildae Beach |
| From Seoul | Not published · KTX + Bus + TaxiLeave from Seoul Station · Plan to stay overFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Pohang Culture Foundation, for Pohang City(재)포항문화재단 (주최 포항시) |
| Usual timing | Since 2019 usually three days, Friday to Sunday, at the end of May or in June (31 May–2 Jun 2019, 26–28 May 2023, 31 May–2 Jun 2024, 20–22 Jun 2025 after an election postponement); before that it was a July summer festival. Held in November in 2021 (20–21 Nov, under COVID-19 rules) and in 2026 (19–21 Nov, Thursday to Saturday), when the edition planned for June was postponed because of the local elections. Browse May / June / November festivals. |
| First held | 2004 |
| Last checked | 27 October 2026Checked against 40 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Pohang is the home of POSCO's steelworks on Yeongil Bay, and its biggest festival takes fire and light as its theme: fire for the blast furnaces, light for the bay and the city's newer industries. It began in 2004 as a POSCO fireworks show for Pohang Citizens' Day and has grown into a three-day event built around an international fireworks show, in which invited teams from abroad each fire a set over the water before a Korean grand finale (by Hanwha in 2023 and 2024, and again in 2026). In 2024 and 2025 the programme around it also had a drone light show of about 1,000 drones, a street parade of some 800 residents, daily fireworks, concerts, fringe stages and night-market stalls. Entry is free. KTO calls it one of Korea's three major fireworks festivals. In recent years it has used two sites: Yeongildae Beach, the city beach on the Buk-gu waterfront (2021, 2024 and 2026), and Hyeongsan River Sports Park in Nam-gu (2019, 2023, 2025).
For most of its history it was a July summer festival, and since 2019 it has been held over a Friday to Sunday at the end of May or in June. 2026 breaks that pattern. On 19 October 2026 Pohang City announced, through News1, that the festival opens on Thursday 19 November with a media-art lighting ceremony at Songdo Pier, followed on Friday 20 November by a fireworks street parade of residents from 29 eup, myeon and dong (towns, townships and neighbourhoods) and local civic groups, and on Saturday 21 November, 20:00–21:00, by the international fireworks show over Yeongildae Beach: France, whose show combines fireworks with lighting and lasers, and Japan, then a Korean finale by Hanwha. KTO's Korean festival page gives the same dates. A city official explained that this year's festival had been planned for June and was postponed because of the local elections. It follows a difficult 2025: the festival was pushed back three weeks to 20–22 June because of the presidential election, and on 21 June its main night was called off a few hours before the start under a heavy rain advisory, leaving local traders with unsold stock and the city facing council criticism over the cost. The festival has been held in November once before, on 20–21 November 2021, when COVID-19 rules pushed it into the second half of the year.
Honest caveats: the crowds are large (about 330,000 over three days in 2024, 170,000 of them on the main Saturday) and the roads around the beach jam in the evening; the international show ends at 21:00, and a train back to Seoul from the station on the edge of the city after the show is not reliable (Korail's timetable changes on 1 November; check it in the Korail app), so plan to stay the night; a late-November night on the beach is cold and windy; and as of 21 October 2026 the hours of the other events, the parade route, shuttle buses and parking had not been published. Some KTO pages still show the 2025 programme, hours or venue, and its Simplified Chinese page gives the wrong dates (20–22 November).
Highlights
- International fireworks show over Yeongildae Beach on Sat 21 Nov 2026, 20:00–21:00: France (fireworks with lighting and lasers) and Japan, then a Korean finale by Hanwha; earlier line-ups were the UK, China and Australia in 2024 (15 minutes each; the audience voted China the winner) and Italy and Canada in 2025
- Drone light show of about 1,000 drones in 2024 and 2025 (on the 2024 main night the drones flew 21:40–22:00); none was mentioned in the city's announcement of the 2026 programme
- Fireworks street parade on Fri 20 Nov 2026 with residents of Pohang's 29 eup, myeon and dong and local civic groups; about 800 residents in 20-plus teams marched in 2024
- Opening media-art lighting ceremony at Songdo Pier on Thu 19 Nov 2026; KTO's programme list, still the 2025 one, also has daily fireworks shows, a light music festa, fringe performances, a light night market and local food zones
- Free entry (KTO); in 2026 the main shows are at Yeongildae Beach, the city beach on the Buk-gu waterfront, as in 2021 and 2024
- One of the rare November editions, moved from June because of the 2026 local elections; the only earlier one was 20–21 November 2021
Who it suits. Best for travelers who want a big, free night-time show on the East Sea coast and are happy to stay overnight in Pohang; less suited to anyone who must be back in Seoul the same evening, to people who dislike dense crowds and traffic jams, or to small children on a cold November night by the sea.
Getting there
From Seoul
KTX from Seoul Station to Pohang Station takes about 2 h 20 m–2 h 30 m; trains also run from Suseo, and since the 1 Sep 2026 KTX–SRT merger both are booked in Korail's own apps and English site. Pohang Station is in Heunghae-eup, on the north-west edge of the city, so finish by taxi or Pohang city bus to Yeongildae Beach (48 Haean-ro, Buk-gu); the nearest stops are Yeongildae Beach and Duho-dong Community Service Center, but the route numbers and journey time from the station were not verified for this record. Intercity buses also run from Dong Seoul Terminal to Pohang Terminal.
From Busan
Donghae Line trains run from Bujeon Station to Pohang Station several times a day: KTX-Eum takes about 1 h 30 m (₩18,100) and ITX-Maeum about 2 h (₩13,900), standard class. Or take an intercity bus from the Haeundae intercity bus stop to Pohang Terminal, roughly hourly, 1 h 28 m, ₩15,200 deluxe. Then a taxi or Pohang city bus to Yeongildae Beach. Getting back to Busan the same night after the show is not reliable: see the last-train note.
Last leg from Pohang Station (KTX)
Donghae Line (KTX from Seoul Station and Suseo). Not walkable: the station is in Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu, on the edge of the city; take a taxi or city bus to Yeongildae Beach
Festival shuttle
No 2026 shuttle plan had been published as of 21 October 2026. At the 2023 edition (Hyeongsan River venue) six shuttle buses ran on three routes from temporary car parks every 30 minutes from mid-afternoon into the night on the main day; those times do not apply to 2026. Before the 2024 Yeongildae edition a travel blog listed temporary car parks at schools, the baseball stadium, Pohang Sports Complex and Pohang Culture and Arts Center, with shuttles expected, but the 2024 timetable was not confirmed.
Getting home
The 2026 international fireworks show runs 20:00–21:00 on Saturday 21 November. Pohang Station is on the north-west edge of the city and the crowds leave the beach at the same time, so a train back to Seoul or Busan the same night is not reliable: stay in Pohang and take a morning train. A new KTX timetable starts on 1 November 2026, and the last trains and buses for 21 November were not verified: check the last train in the Korail+ app (코레일+) or at Pohang Station, and the last bus at Pohang Terminal, before the festival day.
Parking
No 2026 parking plan had been published as of 21 October 2026. For the 2024 edition at Yeongildae the city listed 16 car parks with about 4,080 spaces, among them Yeongildae car parks 1 and 2, the Dumuchi public car park, the Hwanho Park car parks and several school grounds, with different lots open on different days. In 2021 the roads around the beach were closed during festival hours, and for the October 2025 APEC fireworks show at Yeongildae the approach roads were close to gridlock by early evening, so public transport or a taxi is the better choice.
How to switch Naver Map and Kakao Map to English
Google Maps shows train, subway and bus routes in Korea but not walking or driving directions yet, so for the walk from the station Naver Map or Kakao Map is more reliable.
Before you go
1330 · Travel hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization’s helpline answers in English, Japanese and Chinese around the clock, and in several other languages from 08:00 to 19:00. Dial 1330 from a Korean phone, or +82-2-1330 from a phone registered abroad.
112 / 119 · Emergencies
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free from any phone. Police on 112 can add an English or Chinese interpreter to the call.
T-money card
Buy one at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It pays for subways and buses in most cities, and for most taxis.
Maps
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for walking and bus directions; Google Maps does not yet give walking directions in Korea. Both apps can be switched to English. Naver Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → Language (Japanese and Chinese also available). Kakao Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → App settings → Language. If the option is missing, change your phone’s language and reopen the app. Small shop names and some reviews stay in Korean.
Trains and buses
Book trains on Korail’s English site and express buses on Kobus. Holiday weekends sell out first.
Checked 18 October 2026.
Tickets, prices and practical details
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Free | Free (KTO listing) |
- Booking
- No booking is needed. In 2024 about 400 special viewing seats were given out by a prize draw (entries 3–17 May); no 2026 seat scheme had been published as of 21 October 2026. Enquiries 054-289-7852~5 (Pohang Culture Foundation, per KTO); the festival page is on the Pohang Culture Foundation portal (phcf.or.kr).
- English on site
- None documented. KTO has English, Japanese and Chinese pages, but they still show the 2025 programme, and no English signage, interpretation or tours for visitors were reported; sister-city delegations and embassies attended in 2024.
- Crowds
- Very busy on the main fireworks night: about 330,000 visitors over three days in 2024, about 170,000 of them on Saturday 1 June, and about 250,000 in 2023. Traffic to Yeongildae was close to gridlock by early evening for the October 2025 APEC fireworks show.
- Best time to go
- The international fireworks night, Saturday 21 November 2026 (show 20:00–21:00): arrive by late afternoon for a spot on the beach. A travel blog suggests the slope of Hwanho Park above the beach for an overview.
- What to bring
- Warm, windproof layers and a mat or folding stool for a late-November night on the beach, rain gear (the organizer advised boots and umbrellas in 2025), a charged phone, and a booked room in Pohang if you are coming from Seoul.
- Rain
- Weather can cancel the shows. The 2025 rules: the day before, a forecast of 80% or higher chance of rain with 20 mm an hour or more could lead to postponement or cancellation; on the day, rain of 20 mm an hour or winds of 10 m/s or more; the drone show needs winds of 5 m/s or less (cancelled at 5.5 m/s); light rain could scale down the parade and performances. On 21 June 2025 the whole main programme was cancelled a few hours before the start under a heavy rain advisory.
2026 program
- Thu 19 Novopening with a media-art lighting ceremony at Songdo Pier (time not published)
- Fri 20 Novfireworks street parade with residents of 29 eup, myeon and dong and local civic groups (route and time not published)
- Sat 21 Nov 20:00–21:00international fireworks show over Yeongildae Beach: France (fireworks combined with lighting and lasers), Japan, and a Korean finale by Hanwha
Dates and programme from Pohang City via News1 (19 Oct 2026); KTO's Korean festival page (updated 20 Oct 2026) gives the same 19–21 Nov. A city official said this year's festival had been planned for June and was postponed because of the local elections. KTO still shows the 2025 programme and hours (international fireworks by Korea, Canada and Italy, drone light show, Light Art Way, daily fireworks, 14:00–22:00) while it updates the 2026 content; whether a drone show or daily fireworks return in 2026 was not announced. KTO's English page names the 2025 venue, and its Simplified Chinese page gives 20–22 Nov, which is wrong.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not announced as of 21 October 2026. From 2019 to 2025 every regular edition was planned for a Friday to Sunday at the end of May or in June, and a city official says the 2026 edition was also planned for June and was moved to November because of the local elections. Watch Pohang City and Pohang Culture Foundation notices in early 2027. | tba | No 2027 dates or season announced as of 21 October 2026. The city's explanation of the 2026 postponement suggests a return to late May or June is possible, but nothing has been announced. |
| 2026 | 19–21 Nov 2026 | confirmed | Yeongildae Beach (48 Haean-ro, Hanggu-dong, Buk-gu) for the main shows; the opening lighting ceremony on 19 Nov is at Songdo Pier. KTO's English page still names the 2025 venue, Hyeongsan River Sports Park in Nam-gu, as did its Japanese and Chinese pages on 19 Oct 2026. |
| 2025 | 20–22 Jun 2025 | ended | Hyeongsan River Sports Park, the Pohang Canal and Haedo-dong (Nam-gu). |
| 2024 | 31 May – 2 Jun 2024 | ended | Yeongildae Beach, Buk-gu. |
| 2023 | 26–28 May 2023 | ended | Hyeongsan River Sports Park, Nam-gu. |
| 2021 | 20–21 Nov 2021 | ended | Yeongildae Beach; roads around the beach were closed during festival hours. |
| 2019 | 31 May – 2 Jun 2019 | ended | Hyeongsan River Sports Park, Nam-gu. |
Before or after the festival
Places you can fit in before or after the festival without missing the shuttle or the last train or bus back.
Pohang's city art museum, opened in 2009 in Hwanho Park above Yeongil Bay, with four galleries and a collection built around steel art; entry is free (some special exhibitions charge). From November it is open 10:00–18:00 and closed on Mondays, so it fits an afternoon on any festival day (Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November) before the evening programme. Tip: Space Walk is about 140 m away in the same park, so see both on one trip.
Getting there: Short taxi ride from Yeongildae Beach to Hwanho Park, about 2–3 km (listing sites); free entry
A walk-on steel sculpture shaped like a roller-coaster track, 333 m long with 717 steps and up to 25 m high, on the hill of Hwanho Park, with views over Yeongil Bay, the city and the POSCO steelworks; free. From November it is open 10:00–17:00 on weekdays and 10:00–18:00 at weekends, so on Saturday 21 November you can climb it in the late afternoon and still be on the beach well before the 20:00 fireworks. It closes automatically in rain or strong wind, so check the weather before you go up.
Getting there: In Hwanho Park, about 140 m from the museum; about 2 km from Yeongildae Beach (listing site), a short taxi ride
- Getting awayAfter
The fireworks end at 21:00 and most of the crowd leaves the beach at once; roads were close to gridlock for the 2025 APEC show here, and Pohang Station is on the far north-west edge of the city. Do not count on a train back that night: book a room in Pohang and take a morning train. If you must go, check the last train in the Korail+ app (코레일+) and leave the beach before the finale.
Questions travelers ask
When is the Pohang International Fireworks Festival 2026?
Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November 2026, at Yeongildae Beach and other sites in Pohang, as announced by Pohang City and listed on KTO's Korean festival page: the opening media-art lighting ceremony at Songdo Pier on 19 November, a fireworks street parade on 20 November and the international fireworks show on 21 November, 20:00–21:00. Other hours had not been published as of 21 October 2026. KTO's Simplified Chinese page gives 20–22 November, which is wrong.
Why is the festival in November this year?
A Pohang City official says this year's festival was planned for June and was postponed because of the local elections. It normally runs at the end of May or in June; in 2025 it was postponed to 20–22 June for the presidential election and its main night was then rained off. It was last held in November in 2021 (20–21 November), when COVID-19 rules pushed it back.
Is the Pohang International Fireworks Festival free?
Yes. KTO lists free entry, and no paid tickets were documented for recent editions. In 2024 about 400 special viewing seats were given out by a prize draw rather than sold.
How do I get to the festival from Seoul?
Take the KTX from Seoul Station (or Suseo) to Pohang Station, about 2 h 20 m–2 h 30 m, then a taxi or city bus to Yeongildae Beach on the Buk-gu waterfront. The station is on the edge of the city, so allow extra time for the last leg.
Can I see the fireworks and get back to Seoul the same night?
Not reliably. The 2026 international show runs 20:00–21:00, Pohang Station is on the edge of the city, and the crowds leave the beach at the same time. A new KTX timetable starts on 1 November 2026 and the last train for 21 November was not verified, so check it in the Korail+ app (코레일+); better, book a room in Pohang and take a morning train back.
What happens if it rains?
Shows can be postponed or cancelled for heavy rain (20 mm an hour or more) or strong wind (10 m/s or more), and the drone show is dropped in winds above 5 m/s. The 2025 main night was cancelled a few hours before the start, so check the festival's notices on the day.
Where is the best place to watch?
Yeongildae Beach itself, which in 2024 held about 170,000 people on the main night, so arrive early. A travel blog recommends the hillside of Hwanho Park, about 3 km away, for a view over the whole beach.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
27 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2026 edition. Confidence in the current facts: medium.
- KTO 대한민국 구석구석 축제 — 포항국제불빛축제 (Korean festival page, last updated 20 Oct 2026)kto — 2026 dates 19–21 Nov ('2026.11.19 ~ 2026.11.21'); 해안로 48 (항구동) 영일대 해수욕장 외 포항시 일원; free; 포항시 / (재)포항문화재단; 054-289-7852~5; programme shown is the 2025 one (international fireworks by Korea, Canada and Italy, drone light show, Light Art Way, street parade, daily fireworks, music festa, fringe, night market) while the 2026 content is being updated
- News1 — 2026 포항국제불빛축제…11월19일 영일대해수욕장서 '팡파르' (19 Oct 2026)news — From Pohang City: opens 19 Nov 2026 at Yeongildae Beach; 19 Nov media-art lighting ceremony at Songdo Pier; 20 Nov fireworks street parade (29 eup/myeon/dong, local groups); 21 Nov international fireworks 20:00–21:00: France (fireworks, lighting, lasers), Japan, Hanwha finale; a city official says the festival was planned for June and postponed because of the local elections
- KTO VisitKorea (EN) — Pohang International Fireworks Festival (vcontsId 91513)kto — Event period 2026-11-19 ~ 2026-11-21; venue still given as Hyeongsangang Sports Park (the 2025 venue) beside the Yeongildae address; 14:00–22:00 and free, with details based on the 2025 festival
- KTO TourAPI listing 포항국제불빛축제 (contentId 588175)kto — 2026 dates 19–21 Nov; address 해안로 48 (항구동), Yeongildae Beach and other Pohang sites; coordinates 36.0530/129.3776; phone 054-289-7852~5; listing modified 29 Sep 2026
- KTO tourist data — 포항국제불빛축제 (ktriptips mirror, contentId 588175)kto — 19–21 Nov 2026; 14:00–22:00; free; Pohang City and Pohang Culture Foundation; homepage festival.phcf.or.kr; began 2004 for Citizens' Day; one of Korea's three major fireworks festivals; programme (fireworks by Korea, Canada, Italy; drones; Light Art Way; parade; daily fireworks; music, fringe, night market, food route) is 2025's; Steel Art Festival 724 m
- KTO VisitKorea (EN) — 포항국제불빛축제 (cid 588175)kto — English address 48 Haean-ro, Hanggu-dong, Buk-gu; 19–21 Nov 2026; 14:00–22:00; free; Pohang Culture Foundation and Pohang City; 2025 content shown while 2026 is updated
- KTO Japanese listing — 浦項国際光祭り (ktriptips mirror, contentId 1226767)kto — Japanese name 浦項国際光祭り; 19–21 Nov 2026, 14:00–22:00, free; venue still given as Hyeongsan River Sports Park (해도동 115-1); fireworks over Yeongil Bay; light parade
- KTO Simplified Chinese listing — 浦项国际烟火节 (ktriptips mirror, contentId 1236482)kto — Simplified Chinese name 浦项国际烟火节; dates shown as 20–22 Nov 2026, which is wrong (Pohang City and KTO's Korean page give 19–21 Nov); 14:00–22:00; free; venue Hyeongsan River Sports Park, 115-1 Haedo-dong; 2025 content
- KTO Traditional Chinese listing — 浦項國際煙火節 (ktriptips mirror, contentId 1055409)kto — Traditional Chinese name 浦項國際煙火節; 19–21 Nov 2026; 14:00–22:00; international fireworks show 21 June (Sat) 21:00–22:00 (2025 data); free
- 여기유 (festival listing site) — 포항국제불빛축제other — 2026 dates 19–21 Nov (Thu–Sat) marked as planned and subject to change; 14:00–22:00; free; 2025 content; Songdo Beach about 3 km, Space Walk and Hwanho Park about 3 km, Pohang Canal about 4 km
- Kyungbuk Maeil — 포항국제불빛축제 6월 20~22일로 연기 (15 Apr 2025)news — 2025 edition moved from 30 May–1 June to 20–22 June because early voting (29–30 May) and the presidential election (3 June) overlapped it; Hyeongsan River Sports Park; fire for the steel furnaces, light for high-tech industries
- Newsis — 포항국제불빛축제 D-5 (9 Jun 2025)news — Light Art Way along the Pohang Canal from 14 June; light concert and daily fireworks on 20 June; international fireworks (Italy, Canada, Korean finale), 1,000-drone show and Light Radio on 21 June; Hyeongsan River Sports Park
- Wikitree — 포항국제불빛축제 개최, '빛'으로 밝히는 포항의 미래 (19 Jun 2025)news — 2025 programme: 15-minute daily fireworks from 21:00 on 20 June; parade of about 1 km from the Pohang Canal, 23 teams, more than 800 performers; 35 fringe acts; 'Pohang 10 flavours'; 17 light installations; weather rules (80%, 20 mm an hour, 10 m/s, drones 5 m/s / 5.5 m/s); boots and umbrellas advised
- Kyungbuk Maeil — 포항국제불빛축제 당일 취소 (23 Jun 2025)news — Main programme of 21 June 2025 (international fireworks, stage, drone show) cancelled a few hours before the start under a heavy rain advisory; daily fireworks held on 20 June; ₩2.4 billion spent; traders' losses and council criticism
- Kyungbuk Maeil — APEC 기념 포항불꽃쇼 10월 29일 (11 Sep 2025)news — APEC fireworks show at Yeongildae Beach on 29 Oct 2025 from 19:30: 15 minutes of fireworks from a barge and about 1,000 drones; June 2025 festival main programme cancelled for weather
- Kyungbuk Maeil — APEC 기념 포항불꽃쇼 (29 Oct 2025)news — Show ran two hours from 19:30 at Yeongildae Beach; approach roads nearly gridlocked by 18:30
- Kyungbuk Maeil — 2024 포항국제불빛축제 개막 (31 May 2024)news — 2024 edition 31 May–2 June at Yeongildae Beach; theme Hi-Light; opening-night show of about 1,000 drones; daily fireworks
- Maeil Shinmun — 2024 포항국제불빛축제 33만명 (2 Jun 2024)news — About 330,000 visitors over three days, about 170,000 on 1 June; UK, China, Australia, 15 minutes each, plus Hanwha; China won with about 10,000 votes; parade of about 800 citizens in more than 20 teams; ESG light zone; sister-city delegations and embassies
- Wikitree — 2024 포항 불꽃축제 시간·주차장 (1 Jun 2024)news — 1 June 2024 fireworks 20:40–21:00 and drone show 21:40–22:00; 2 June concert 21:00–21:40 with Lee Seok-hoon and Woody; 16 car parks with about 4,080 spaces incl. Yeongildae 1 and 2, Dumuchi, Hwanho Park and school grounds; lots vary by day
- Kuki News — 포항국제불빛축제 '더 화려해진다' (3 May 2024)news — 2024 described as the 20th edition; Yeongildae Beach; international competition with the UK, Australia and China; 1,000-drone show
- 여행톡톡 (Daum) — 2024 포항국제불빛축제 일정 및 위치 총정리 (10 May 2024)blog — 2024 hours 14:00–22:00, free; about 400 special viewing seats by prize draw, entries 3–17 May; Hwanho Park as a viewpoint; temporary car parks (schools, baseball stadium, Pohang Sports Complex, Culture and Arts Center); bus stops Yeongildae Beach and Duho-dong Community Service Center
- Maeil Shinmun — 2023 포항국제불빛축제 프로그램 (25 May 2023)news — 2023 at Hyeongsan River Sports Park; international fireworks (Philippines, Sweden, Italy) on 27 May from 21:00 for about an hour, Hanwha finale, citizen-designed show; parade 15:00–17:00 from Songrim Elementary School; market 14:00–22:00; about 9,000 parking spaces at 13 sites; six shuttles on three routes every 30 minutes 15:00–23:00
- Kyungbuk Maeil — 2023 포항국제불빛축제 25만명 (29 May 2023)news — 2023 dates 26–28 May; about 250,000 visitors, police estimate about 120,000 in the grounds; 1,600 safety staff; 236 shuttle trips carrying about 9,000; first full in-person edition in four years
- Segye Ilbo — 포항국제불빛축제 하이브리드 개최 (21 Nov 2021)news — 2020 edition cancelled for COVID-19; 2021 moved to the second half of the year (designated slot the last weekend of May); opened 20 Nov at Yeongildae; mini fireworks of about 20 minutes; about 70,000 visitors over two days; 300-drone show and flypast cancelled
- Kyungbuk Maeil — 2021 포항국제불빛축제 개막 (20 Nov 2021)news — 2021 dates 20–21 Nov at Yeongildae Beach; opening 18:00 on 20 Nov for 499 vaccinated guests, streamed on YouTube; 14 photo spots; roads around the beach closed during festival hours
- Ajunews — 포항국제불빛축제 5.31∼6.2일 개최 (2019)news — 16th edition 31 May–2 June 2019 at Hyeongsan River Sports Park; Pohang's 70th year; Royal Pyrotechnie (Canada) and Marutamaya (Japan); 1.3 km parade with about 1,800 citizens
- Korea Culture Information Service Agency (nculture) — 포항국제불빛축제 local festival entryother — Origin in 2004 as a POSCO fireworks show for Pohang Citizens' Day; formerly held every July as the city's main summer festival; venues Yeongildae Beach and Hyeongsan River Sports Park; Ministry of Culture designations
- Pohang → Seoul Station train timetable, 18–24 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-18)other — Departures 05:35, 06:11, 07:14, 18:31 (arr 20:56) and 21:36 KTX-Sancheon 282 (arr 00:07); 18:31 only on 18, 23 and 24 Oct; journeys 2 h 25 m–2 h 42 m; listed standard fare ₩48,800
- Seoul Station → Pohang train timetable, 16–22 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Four departures listed each day: 05:03, 05:38, 06:43, 22:18; journeys 2 h 20 m–2 h 30 m
- Pohang Station (Donghae Line) station page (third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-18)other — Station at 포항역로 1, Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu; KTX timetables to Seoul Station and Suseo
- Dong Seoul Terminal intercity bus destinations (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-12)other — Pohang Terminal listed among Dong Seoul intercity bus destinations
- Korail press release: 코레일-에스알 9월 1일 하나로…안전 최우선, 더 편리한 고속철도의 시작 (31 Aug 2026)official — Integration and integrated running from 1 Sep 2026; KTX and SRT merged into KTX; average KTX fare cut about 10%; Suseo-axis seats up about 30%; 5% mileage; Korail+ app (Korail Talk + SRT app) launched 3 Aug
- Korail Tickets (English booking site)official — English booking site; letskorail.com redirected to korail.com; Suseo is in the KTX station list; language menu has English, Japanese, Chinese (simplified/traditional), Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian
- Bujeon → Pohang train timetable, 15–21 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-15)other — 7 trains a day, same every day, 05:11–19:40: ITX-Maeum 05:11, 09:38, 11:09, 15:33 (1 h 58 m–2 h 06 m, ₩13,900 standard); KTX-Eum 07:50, 13:58, 19:40 (1 h 28 m–1 h 30 m, ₩18,100 standard); weekday adult fares
- Pohang → Bujeon train timetable, 13–19 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-13)other — 7 trains a day, 08:38–20:57; evening departures 17:20 KTX-Eum 754 (arr 18:50), 19:52 ITX-Maeum (arr 22:00), 20:34 ITX-Maeum 1806 (arr 22:37), 20:57 KTX-Eum 756 (arr 22:29); ₩18,100 KTX-Eum, ₩13,900 ITX-Maeum
- Busan Haeundae intercity bus stop → Pohang Terminal intercity bus timetable (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-15)other — Departs 부산해운대시외버스정류소; 15 buses a day, hourly 07:40–21:40; 1 h 28 m; ₩15,200 deluxe (우등), weekday adult
- Pohang Terminal → Busan Haeundae intercity bus stop timetable (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-02)other — 15 buses a day, hourly 07:10–21:10; 1 h 31 m; ₩15,200 deluxe (우등)
- KTO tourist data — 포항시립미술관 (ktriptips mirror, contentId 2406280)kto — Pohang Museum of Art in Hwanho Park, opened 22 Dec 2009, four exhibition halls, steel-art focus; 10:00–19:00 Apr–Oct, 10:00–18:00 Nov–Mar; closed Mondays (open if a public holiday), 1 Jan, Seollal and Chuseok; free, some special exhibitions paid; Space Walk about 138 m away
- 여기유 (listing site, KTO data) — 스페이스워크other — Space Walk in Hwanho Park: deck about 25 m high, views of Yeongil Bay, the city and the steelworks; Nov–Mar weekdays 10:00–17:00, weekends 10:00–18:00 (Apr–Oct to 20:00/21:00); closed the first Monday of the month and automatically in rain or strong wind; free; about 2 km from Yeongildae Beach; information registered Sept 2025
- Pohang City — 환호공원 조형물 스페이스 워크 (artists and work)municipal — Space Walk: track 333 m, 717 steps; 60 × 57 × 25 m (opened for the site's Pohang Steel Art Festival record)
What we could not confirm
- 2026 opening hours, the time of the 19 Nov lighting ceremony, the 20 Nov parade route and time, whether a drone show, daily fireworks or night market return, and shuttle buses, traffic control and parking had not been published as of 21 Oct 2026, and searches on 29 Oct 2026 found no 2026 shuttle, traffic-control or parking notice; KTO still shows the 2025 programme and hours.
- Whether 2027 returns to the late-May/June slot: a city official's explanation of the 2026 postponement (local elections) suggests it may, but nothing has been announced.
- The Pohang Culture Foundation festival page (phcf.or.kr; the old festival.phcf.or.kr address now returns an error page) and any Pohang Culture Foundation notice for 2026 were not opened; the 2026 dates and programme come from Pohang City via News1 and KTO's Korean festival page.
- Whether a 2022 edition was held (it was being prepared in August 2022, and the 2023 edition was called the first full in-person one in four years), and so the edition count: 16th in 2019, '20th' in 2024 per Kuki News.
- Bus route numbers and taxi time from Pohang Station to Yeongildae Beach not verified.
- Rail: the third-party timetable mirror lists only 4–5 Seoul Station–Pohang trains a day and a standard fare of ₩48,800, neither checked against Korail's own search or fare table; November 2026 timetables not read; Suseo–Pohang trains not read.
- Restrooms, accessibility, card payment, pets and English support are not documented.
- 2025 budget figures differ between reports (₩2.4 billion spent, per Kyungbuk Maeil on 23 June 2025; a total of about ₩1.8 billion in its 11 September 2025 report), so neither is used beyond the edition note.
- Last train back on the festival date under the timetable in force that day: the last Pohang→Seoul and Pohang→Bujeon trains and the last Pohang→Haeundae bus on Saturday 21 Nov 2026 (the 1 Nov 2026 KTX timetable could not be read here; October times came from a third-party mirror).
- Whether Space Walk and Hwanho Park stay open or are crowd-controlled on the fireworks night (21 Nov 2026), and whether Pohang Museum of Art keeps its normal hours during the festival (listing data, not the operators' own pages).
Changes: 2026-10-19 — Added to the site: fact-first record (dates, hours, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-19 — 2026 edition marked as expected rather than confirmed until Pohang announces it: KTO's listings disagree on the dates (19–21 or 20–22 November). · 2026-10-19 — Added a Wikimedia Commons photograph of fireworks at Yeongildae Beach during the festival (Md Reyazul Islam, CC BY-SA 3.0). · 2026-10-20 — 2024 fireworks time corrected to a start time (from 20:40): the post-festival report gives three 15-minute international shows plus a finale; bus stop name corrected to Duho-dong. · 2026-10-21 — 2026 dates confirmed: Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November 2026 (Pohang City via News1; KTO's Korean festival page). Added the 2026 programme (Songdo Pier opening, parade, international fireworks 20:00–21:00 with France, Japan and Korea) and the reason for November (postponed from June for the local elections); dropped KTO's 2025 hours and line-up. · 2026-10-21 — Official link updated: festival.phcf.or.kr → Pohang Culture Foundation portal festival page (phcf.or.kr/phcf/festival_detail). · 2026-10-21 — Transport: removed the unverified last-train, first-train and last-bus clock times (October 2026 timetable listing) for the 21 November show; the page now advises staying overnight and checking the last train in the Korail app (코레일+). · 2026-10-27 — Transport check: no Korail (1 Nov 2026 timetable), bus-operator or city traffic/shuttle notice for 21 Nov 2026 could be checked, so no clock times added; removed 2024 and 2025 clock times (drone show end, APEC-show gridlock time); app name corrected to Korail+ (코레일+). · 2026-10-29 — Nearby rewritten as 'Before or after the festival' (shuttle and last-train fit); transport: no 2026 shuttle, traffic or 1 Nov Korail timetable for 21 Nov could be checked, so no clock times added; getThere.leaving added (stay overnight, check the Korail+ app); prices: unchanged (free entry, KTO).
