Busan New Year's Eve 2026→2027: Gwangalli Drone Countdown, Bell Ringing & Sunrise
Spending New Year's in Busan? The Gwangalli Beach drone countdown, the midnight bell at Yongdusan Park, the best sunrise spots on January 1, plus late-night transit, Jan 1 department store closures and when to book.
Last updated: · Busan Bible Editorial Team (based in Busan)
New Year’s Day 2027 falls on a Friday, so Taiwan gets a three-day weekend (Jan 1–3), Hong Kong has its Christmas and New Year holidays, and Japan is on its year-end break. Visitors from all three arrive in Busan at the same time, which makes the beaches on New Year’s Eve and the sunrise spots on January 1 the busiest places in the city all year.
⚡ The 30-second version: watch the drone countdown at Gwangalli Beach, or hear the midnight bell at Yongdusan Park. Sunrise on January 1 is around 7:30 am. Department stores close on January 1, so shop on Dec 31 or Jan 2. Transit is packed after midnight: stay within walking distance of the countdown and book early.
2026→2027 holiday calendar
| Where | Days off |
|---|---|
| Taiwan | Jan 1 (Fri) to Jan 3 (Sun), three days |
| Hong Kong | Dec 25 (Fri) and Dec 26 (Sat) for Christmas, Jan 1 (Fri) |
| Japan | Year-end holidays, usually Dec 29 to Jan 3 |
| Korea | Jan 1 only; Dec 31 is a normal working day |
Korea’s New Year holiday is just one day; the big break is Lunar New Year (Seollal). See our Busan festival calendar for what else is on over the winter.
Where to spend New Year’s Eve
Gwangalli Beach: drone countdown
This is where most of Busan counts down. A drone show over the water in front of Gwangan Bridge counts in the new year every year; for 2025→2026 it used 2,500 drones in a “red horse” design for the zodiac year. Police put 300 officers on Gwangalli alone and expected about 67,000 people, and mobile carriers switched off public Wi-Fi from 9 pm to 1 am so it wouldn’t interfere with the drones.
- The best spots, mid-beach facing the bridge, fill up before 9 pm.
- To skip the crush, book a Gwangalli sea-view room and watch from the window.
- For the regular weekend shows, see our Gwangalli M Drone Light Show guide.
Yongdusan Park: the Busan Citizens’ Bell
For a more Korean way to see in the year, go to Yongdusan Park in Nampo-dong. The Busan Citizens’ Bell is rung at midnight on January 1, after a year-end concert and a wish-writing booth. About 7,000 people attended for 2025→2026.
The park sits right above Gwangbok-ro, so walk the Gwangbok-ro Christmas tree festival first; the street is still lit up at this time of year.
Haeundae Beach
Haeundae is the other big New Year’s Eve area, with plenty of hotels and restaurants open late. At midnight for 2025→2026, Grand Josun’s facade screened a 15-minute highlights reel of the year. Crowds are a little lighter than Gwangalli, which suits anyone staying in Haeundae.
Sunrise on January 1: where and when
Sunrise in Busan on January 1 is around 7:30 am. For 2025→2026, the city expected about 100,000 people across 11 sunrise spots. Popular choices:
| Spot | Why go |
|---|---|
| Gwangalli Beach | The sun rises beside Gwangan Bridge; the biggest crowd |
| Haeundae Beach | Easy to reach, lots of hotels |
| Songjeong Beach | Quieter than Haeundae with an open shoreline |
| Songdo Beach | Had performances from 6 am for 2025→2026 |
| Oryukdo Skywalk | A glass walkway over the cliffs |
| Dadaepo Beach | On the southwest side, handy if you stay in Nampo or Yeongdo |
| Haedong Yonggungsa | A seaside temple at sunrise, with the heaviest crowds and traffic control |
- It’s close to 0°C by the water at dawn and windy. Bring a heavy coat, gloves and a hat; see Busan weather by month for late-December temperatures.
- Leave at least an hour early for Haedong Yonggungsa; taxis back are scarce.
Getting around on New Year’s Eve
- Subway: for 2025→2026, Busan Metro ran extended hours with extra trains and added staff at Nampo, Haeundae, Suyeong, Gwangan and Geumnyeonsan stations. This year’s timetable usually comes out in late December.
- Crowded stations: after the countdown, lines at Nampo, Gwangan, Geumnyeonsan and Haeundae are long. Walk a stop or two before boarding.
- Taxis: nearly impossible after midnight, and Kakao T requests queue up. Tips in our Busan taxi and Kakao T guide.
- Easiest option: stay in Gwangalli, Haeundae or Nampo-dong and walk back.
What’s open on January 1
- Department stores: in recent years Lotte, Shinsegae and Hyundai have closed every branch on January 1, including Lotte Seomyeon and Shinsegae Centum City.
- Outlets, hypermarkets and malls: usually open.
- Olive Young, convenience stores and most restaurants: mostly open, though some branches may shorten hours.
Plan department store shopping for December 31 or January 2. See the Busan duty-free and department store guide.
Where to stay: book early
New Year’s Eve is the most sought-after night of the year for sea-view rooms in Gwangalli and Haeundae. Prices run well above normal and popular hotels start selling out months ahead. If you want to watch the drones or the sunrise from your room, book a sea-view room and check which way it faces.
Kent Hotel Gwangalli by Kensington
Right across from Gwangalli Beach; sea-view rooms face Gwangan Bridge, so you can watch the drone countdown from your room.
Check rates
A short walk to Haeundae Beach and the subway, so getting back after midnight is easy.
High-floor sea views in Haeundae LCT and an infinity pool, for a New Year's splurge.
More options in our Gwangalli hotel guide and Busan ocean-view hotels.
eSIM, Gimhae Airport pickup and a transit card; sort them out before the holiday rush
When we’ll update this page
Busan usually announces the countdown, bell-ringing and sunrise event details in late December. We’ll update times, locations and transit here when it does.
Related guides
- Busan Christmas lights: Gwangbok-ro tree festival
- Busan autumn and winter 2026 festival calendar
- Gwangalli M Drone Light Show guide
- Busan weather by month
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the biggest New Year's Eve countdown in Busan?
Gwangalli Beach. There's a drone countdown show every year; for 2025→2026 it used 2,500 drones, and police expected about 67,000 people at Gwangalli alone. For something more traditional, the Busan Citizens' Bell is rung at midnight at Yongdusan Park in Nampo-dong.
Have the 2026→2027 event times been announced?
Not yet. Busan usually publishes the countdown and bell-ringing details in late December, and we'll update this page when it does. Both the Gwangalli countdown and the Yongdusan bell ringing are held every year.
Are department stores open in Busan on January 1?
In recent years Lotte, Shinsegae and Hyundai department stores have all closed every branch on January 1. Outlets, hypermarkets (E-mart, Lotte Mart) and shopping malls usually stay open. Plan department store shopping for December 31 or January 2.
What time is sunrise on January 1 in Busan, and where should I watch it?
Around 7:30 am. Gwangalli, Haeundae, Songjeong, Songdo and Dadaepo beaches and the Oryukdo Skywalk are the popular spots. Haedong Yonggungsa is beautiful too, but has the heaviest crowds and traffic control.
How do I get back to my hotel after the countdown?
For 2025→2026 the Busan subway ran extended hours with extra trains, but Nampo, Haeundae, Suyeong, Gwangan and Geumnyeonsan stations get packed and taxis are almost impossible to find. The easiest option is a hotel within walking distance of where you watch the countdown.
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