Hanwha Wraps Up 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival Flawlessly

A team from Hanwha Corp. fires diverse fireworks into Seoul’s skies during the 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival, which took place along the Han River on Sept. 5.

Hanwha concluded the 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival, which took place along the Han River on Sept. 5. The latest fireworks festival was held under the theme of “Find Your Light.”

This year’s show was attended by fireworks teams from three countries — South Korea’s Hanwha Corp., the United States, and Britain. A pre-festival event also took place for the first time since the festival made its debut in 2000.

Hanwha Group shouldered about 13 billion won in costs for hosting the festival, including 4.5 billion won on ensuring safety management. The fest attracted approximately 1 million spectators.

The British team started the show, with its fireworks flying high into the skey to the tune of “Soda Pop” from the original soundtrack of the Netflix megahit, “KPop Demon Hunters.”

The U.S. team followed with “O Fortuna” playing in the background.

The South Korean team capped off the night with its show for the final 20 minutes, enchanting the tens and thousands of people on hand.

In a pre-festival statement, Hanwha Group Chmn. Kim Seung-youn said, “The reason Hanwha shoots fireworks into the sky is to make everyone looking up enjoy happiness together, so we want to pass along that happiness.”

Hanwha streamed the fireworks festival live via its channels like Hanwha TV to share the moving moments across the nation.

Live streaming views stood at 2.68 million and the maximum concurrent viewers amounted to 260,000.

Hanwha Group devoted itself to ensuring safety management and maintaining order at the fireworks festival, which attracted about 1 million spectators.

The group mobilized about 5,000 people, including 1,200 Hanwha executive and staff volunteers, the largest-ever figure, for ensuring safety management and maintaining order.

A Hanwha official said, “As many people actively followed the guidance of the safety staff, the fireworks festival was concluded without major accidents.”

Hanwha Systems CEO Yang Ki-won and EDGE Group CEO Hamad Al Marar strike a term sheet for cooperation on establishing an integrated air defense network for the United Arab Emirates during a signing ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 15. (Photos: Hanwha)

Hanwha and EDGE Join Forces to Set Up UAE’s Integrated Air Defense Network

Hanwha Systems agreed with the United Arab Emirates’ state-run defense conglomerate, EDGE, to establish an integrated air defense network, covering long- and medium-range capabilities as well as counter-drone defenses.

The CEOs of the two companies signed a term sheet for the air defense network project during a ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 15.

The document details the direction of the planned introduction of weapons systems for the integrated air defense network and review agendas at each stage of the project.

The two companies plan to determine details of the project in line with the direction of defense cooperation between the two countries.

Through government approvals and consultations, both sides will establish a local joint venture and discuss its operation and local production.

Through the partnership, Hanwha Systems plans to expand its role from supplying individual weapons systems to participating in the integrated air defense network, by linking ground weapons systems, including the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, to expand its multilayered air defense portfolio covering short-, medium- long-range and drone threats.

Hanwha Systems said it plans to make the UAE a strategic base for expanding into the Middle East and other overseas markets, by combining the UAE’s industrial basis and Hanwha Systems’ capabilities.

Hanwha Group has built up a track record in the Middle East by supplying components for the Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile system.

The group has exported Hanwha Systems’ multifunction radar and Hanwha Aerospace’s launchers, canisters and missile components to the UAE in 2022, Saudi Arabia in 2024 and Iraq in 2025.

“The term sheet marks a turning point for Hanwha and EDGE to move into a strategic partnership that shares technologies and industrial capabilities for integrated air defense networks,” Hanwha Systems CEO Yang Ki-won said.