New Year's countdowns and sunrises prove a mixed bag

Tens of thousands of people traveled across the nation for New Year’s Day countdowns and sunrises. Thousands of celebrants gathered at Gyeongpo Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon. The rain did not disturb their New Year’s wishes and anticipation.

People see the New Year’s first sunrise on Seonyudo Bridge at Seonyudo Park in Yeongdeungpo District in western Seoul on Monday. [NEWS1]

Tens of thousands of people traveled across the nation for New Year’s Day countdowns and sunrises.

Thousands of celebrants gathered at Gyeongpo Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon. The rain did not disturb their New Year’s wishes and anticipation.

When the screen displayed a timer for the countdown to 2024, people chanted the countdown altogether.

Once Korea rang in the new year, they shared their New Year’s blessing with other visitors, wishing each other’s health and well-being in 2024.

The following fireworks to celebrate the first day of the Year of Dragon wowed spectators.

“In 2024, we hope for better health and happiness as we went through severe health problems in 2023,” said Lee Yong-hee and Kim Tae-young, a middle-aged married couple from Suwon.

“We wish everyone stays well this year with a vibrant economy and stabilized living costs,” they added.

Kim Chae-rin, 31, said she wished for “better luck in 2024.” She visited the New Year’s Day event with her two friends.

“I hope my family stays healthy and get a salary raise in the new year,” she added.

New Year’s Day fireworks take place in front of Chuncheon City Hall in Gangwon on Monday. [CHUNCHEON CITY HALL, YONHAP]

Other festivities across Gangwon boosted the New Year’s joy.

The world’s largest hourglass — weighed more than eight tons — was reversed at nearby Jeongdongjin Sandglass Park to commemorate the start of the new year. A concert accompanied the fireworks.

In Sokcho, fireworks and a traditional Korean lion mask dance featuring a blue dragon entertained audiences.

New Year's Day event in Sokcho, Gangwon on Monday. [SOKCHO CITY HALL]

In the early morning on Monday, thousands of visitors flocked to Gangwon’s beach along the East Sea to see the New Year’s first sunrise. The East Sea coast gets mainland Korea's earliest sunrises.

However, visitors returned disappointed after clouds obscured the sun as it rose above the horizon at 7:42 a.m.

Visitors at Gyeongpo Beach in Gangwon wait for the New Year’s first sunrise on Monday morning. Regions alongside the East Sea missed the clear sunrise due to low clouds formed above the ocean waters. [YONHAP]

“Although I missed the clear sunrise, I am satisfied with seeing the sea,” Seoul resident Park Eun-jung said.

“The well-being of my family is a top priority. I hope all things go well and society becomes more generous to others,” she added.

The Gangwon Provincial Police Agency mobilized three police squads as a safety precaution.

The police coordinated with the cities of Gangneung, Sokcho, Donghae and Samcheok and Goseong County to cordon off risky coastal sites, including sea walls and observation decks.

Cars jam the road in Gangneung, Gangwon on Monday. [YONHAP]

The local authorities deployed 917 personnel and 139 patrol vehicles to oversee traffic and prevent accidents. Ambulances were dispatched in case of emergency.

To prevent traffic congestion, the authorities controlled the traffic signals in the areas where massive numbers of cars were expected to move simultaneously after the sunrise events.

The officers authorized vehicles to use shoulder lanes and monitored speeding and irresponsible driving.

“The police prepared and put extra effort to make the New Year’s Day celebration safe as it predicted that a large volume of visitors and vehicles would come to Gangwon,” a police official said.

A blue dragon statue was installed on Gwangalli Beach in Busan on Friday, three days ahead of New Year’s Day on Monday. [YONHAP]

In Busan, the New Year’s drone show did not go as planned, much to the chagrin of thousands of spectators.

Network glitches grounded the drones, disappointing more than 82,000 people on site.

Two thousand drones were supposed to light up the sky in the form of numbers during the countdown before forming the shape of a dragon with blue lights.

However, the drones never even lifted off.

“How could the office in charge of drone show waste people’s time and effort?” an anonymous visitor said.

“The now-disappointed people waited several hours in the cold, not knowing that 2024 had arrived. There was no apology for the delay or cancellation on site,” the visitor added.

One person on the internet said he booked accommodations a few months earlier, paying two to three times higher than average for the New Year celebratory drone show.

Suyeong District Office canceled the show around 12:30 a.m. on Monday.

“The district Office deeply apologizes to the people who waited for long hours outside,” an official said.

“The authority tried to resume the show multiple times but failed and ultimately had to call off the show,” the official added.

According to the official, an official apology will follow.

The district office planned to host the drone show at 7 p.m. on Monday.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG, PARK JIN-HO [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]