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Hi, I’m SeoulAslanGwangmyeong Cave Light Festival 2026: Drone Show Times
Checked Oct 6, 2026
The Gwangmyeong Cave Light Festival runs on Fri Oct 16 and Sat Oct 17, 2026, 11:00–21:00, just southwest of Seoul. A show of 1,000 drones flies twice each night: Friday at 19:30 and 21:00, Saturday at 19:00 and 20:40. The festival is free, but going inside the cave costs 10,000 won for an adult, and the cave stops letting people in at 17:00.
I haven't been to Gwangmyeong Cave yet. I really dislike crowds, so before anything else I worked out the times and the costs for a first visit, from the cave's own Korean pages and the organizer's announcement.
Jump to: Drone show times · What's on · Cave tickets · Cave hours · Getting there · Getting back · Parking · A simple plan · FAQ
What time is the Gwangmyeong Cave drone show?
Two shows a night, with 1,000 drones each time:
- Fri Oct 16: 19:30 and 21:00 KST
- Sat Oct 17: 19:00 and 20:40 KST
On Friday the opening ceremony starts at 19:00, before the first show: an opening performance, an environmental pledge, a DJ set and an environment quiz show. If you can only pick one show, Saturday at 19:00 is the earliest of the four and leaves the most time to get back to Seoul.
What else is on at the festival?
This is the 4th edition, run by the Gwangmyeong Urban Corporation (광명도시공사). The theme is "Forest of Light, Waking Life" (빛의 숲, 깨어나는 생명), built around carbon neutrality.
- Upcycling workshops: at Box Village (박스빌리지) and Saessak Gongbang (새싹공방), 11:00–18:00
- Food stalls: in parking lot 2 (제2주차장)
- Busking: on the Light Plaza (빛의 광장)
Last year close to 30,000 people came over the two days.
How much does it cost to go inside the cave?
The festival programs are free. The cave itself, a mine until 1972 that the city turned into a lit-up attraction, keeps its normal fee during the festival.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | 10,000 won (about $7) |
| Teen (middle and high school) | 5,000 won |
| Child (age 3 to elementary school) | 3,000 won |
| 65 and over | 3,000 won |
A family of two adults, one teen and one child pays 28,000 won. Tickets are sold at the cave and online. Gwangmyeong residents pay half, which won't apply to you. The other way round: the cave's site says visitors from outside Gwangmyeong who pay the full 10,000 won adult fee get a 3,000 won paper voucher in Gwangmyeong's local currency, to spend in the city, not inside the cave.
What are the cave's opening hours?
09:00–18:00, last entry 17:00. It's closed on Mondays; the rest of October that means Oct 12, 19 and 26. Both festival days, Friday and Saturday, are normal opening days.
Inside it stays around 12°C all year. Bring a jacket for the cave, and keep it on for the drone show: by 19:00 in mid-October you'll be standing outside in the dark.
How do you get to Gwangmyeong Cave by public transport?
- Take subway Line 7 to Cheolsan Station (철산역).
- Go out Exit 2 and cross to the bus stop opposite 2001 Outlet (2001아울렛).
- Take bus 17 to the end of the line, Gwangmyeong Cave (광명동굴). The stop names on the bus screen are in Korean, so look for 광명동굴.
Coming by KTX: from Gwangmyeong Station (광명역), go out Exit 8 and take bus 77 to the cave. Your T-money card works on both buses. If you've never ridden a Korean city bus, see how to ride a bus in Seoul.
From Oct 7, Gwangmyeong also runs a 15-seat self-driving shuttle, GM1, between Cheolsan Station and the cave, Wednesday to Sunday. It leaves Cheolsan at 10:00 and 14:00, and the cave at 11:40 and 15:40. That last one is far too early for the drone show, so don't plan your evening around it.
How do you get back to Seoul after the drone show?
The same buses: 17 back to Cheolsan Station for Line 7, or 77 to KTX Gwangmyeong Station. After the last show a lot of people will be leaving at once, so check the last bus times in Naver Map before the show starts. If you'd rather take a taxi, see how foreigners can call a taxi in Korea.
Can you drive and park there?
- Lots 1 and 2 (west gate): 3,000 won a day for a regular car, 1,500 won for a compact, 4,000 won for a large vehicle
- Lot 3 (east gate): 800 won for the first 30 minutes, then 300 won per 10 minutes
During the festival, lot 2 becomes the food market, so there are fewer spaces than usual. The organizer has asked visitors to come by public transport.
A simple plan for the day
- Arrive in the afternoon and go inside the cave before the 17:00 last entry.
- Walk the festival area: workshops until 18:00, then food in lot 2.
- Watch one drone show: Fri 19:30, or Sat 19:00.
- Leave straight after and take bus 17 back to Cheolsan Station.
If it were me, I'd see the cave in the quieter daytime, watch just one drone show in the evening, and head home.
FAQ
What time is the Gwangmyeong Cave drone show in 2026?
Fri Oct 16 at 19:30 and 21:00, Sat Oct 17 at 19:00 and 20:40 KST. 1,000 drones each time.
Is the Gwangmyeong Cave Light Festival free?
Yes, the festival and the drone show are free. Entering the cave costs 10,000 won for an adult.
Do I need to book the festival or the drone show?
No. You walk into the festival. Cave tickets are sold at the cave and online.
How do I get to Gwangmyeong Cave from Seoul?
Line 7 to Cheolsan Station, Exit 2, then bus 17 to the last stop, 광명동굴. From KTX Gwangmyeong Station, Exit 8, bus 77.
Is Gwangmyeong Cave open on Mondays?
No. It's closed every Monday. Both festival days are a Friday and a Saturday, so the cave is open.
Crowds and the bus home after the show
Close to 30,000 people came over two days last year. I'll watch how much bigger the crowd gets this year, and how the buses cope after the last drone show, and add a note here.
More autumn festivals and events
Sources
- Gwangmyeong Cave: admission, hours, temperature (Korean) · Directions and parking (Korean) · Cave homepage: October closing days, festival notices, local voucher
- G-Valley Times: festival hours and drone show times (Korean)
- Web Economy: Gwangmyeong Urban Corporation announcement, opening ceremony (Korean)
- Financial News, Sept 28, 2026: GM1 self-driving shuttle (Korean) · Asia Economy, same day (Korean)
- Korea Tourism Organization festival listing · Hwankyung Ilbo and G-Valley Times on the 2025 festival
- Photos: Korea Tourism Organization photo gallery, Korea Open Government License Type 1
— SeoulAslan
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