Iron Man lights up Han River sky in year's final drone light show

On the last night of October, Iron Man and a host of other Marvel characters will light up the Han River sky, brought to life by 2,000 drones.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced plans to stage a "Marvel Special" as the year's final Han River Drone Light Show at Ttukseom Hangang Park on Saturday, offering residents a distinctive autumn night out.

The show will deploy a record 2,000 drones, which will spend 15 minutes recreating iconic Marvel characters and memorable scenes. The display is designed to bring the franchise's signature dynamic sequences to life through light and music, giving audiences the feeling of stepping inside a film.

Through Oct. 9, the Han River Drone Light Show had staged seven performances drawing about 197,000 visitors in total. Average attendance per show stood at roughly 28,000 — more than 2.5 times the figure recorded when the series launched in 2023.

The growing crowds have translated into stronger spending at nearby businesses. On days when the drone light show was held during the first half of this year, card sales at commercial establishments near Ttukseom Hangang Park rose 39 percent compared with normal days, while card spending by foreign visitors surged roughly fivefold.

Before the show, a range of on-site Marvel brand experiences will be set up across the park — including a photo zone themed around "Avengers: Doomsday," which is scheduled to open in December, along with a costume parade and event booths.

The city said it will strengthen ties between the event and local food and activity programs to help tourist foot traffic flow into surrounding businesses. Near the venue, Jayang Station will host Seoul's Farmers Market, a direct-trade market connecting urban consumers with rural producers, so that attendees can sample seasonal agricultural and fishery specialties from across the country before the show.

The city is also partnering with Baemin to offer online food delivery discount coupons redeemable near the venue, letting visitors enjoy the drone show alongside K-delivery service at the Han River.

With the final drone light show of the year falling on Halloween and a large crowd expected, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said it has put in place a series of safety measures: deploying additional safety personnel, running extra subway trains at Jayang Station near the venue, and allowing trains to pass through Jayang Station without stopping when platform congestion reaches levels that pose a safety risk. Further details about the event are available on the official website and Instagram.

"The Han River Drone Light Show is a premier nighttime tourism attraction that blends world-class content with the appeal of Seoul," said Cho Seong-ho, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Tourism and Sports Bureau. "With the Marvel-themed visuals from 2,000 drones and a lineup of special programs, we hope to give residents a wonderful memory of an autumn night."