Glad Yeouido Hotel Review 2026: Seoul Fireworks Festival Stay

I remember the day I found out the Fireworks Festival schedule had shifted to early September. On a whim, I booked a room at the Glad Yeouido!

Honestly, I didn't really think I'd actually stay there back then, haha.

My initial plan wasn't to watch the fireworks from the room; I thought, 'Wouldn't the rooftop bar be perfect?' But when I actually got there, things were a bit different than I expected. (n)

In the end, we watched the fireworks outside and then walked back for a cozy night's sleep at the hotel. Turns out, being able to stroll back to the hotel after the fireworks and get some solid rest was a huge perk!

At a Glance

Booking My Stay

I booked it on Agoda right away, just in case, when I heard the festival dates changed.

But honestly, I never truly expected to go, haha... I booked it and completely forgot about it, and it happened to be when I was traveling in Mongolia, so it slipped my mind entirely.

By the time I snapped back to reality, the free cancellation period was long gone, and I was out ~$316.....

To make matters worse, I hadn't even paid immediately, incurring Agoda fees. I'm usually pretty good about checking cancellation deadlines, but this time, I just threw the booking out there and forgot. ^ㅡㅠ

(Still, if I'd booked on another platform that day, it would've been around ~$350!)

So, yes, I'm the person who booked a ~$316 hotel just to see some fireworks, then completely forgot about it while in Mongolia. Talk about a 'stupid tax'! I paid a hefty price for my forgetfulness.

Rooftop Fireworks View?

Sigh...

My hope wasn't a room with a fireworks view, but rather to watch the show from the rooftop bar.

However, when I checked in and asked the staff, they firmly told me that the most important part of the fireworks would be obstructed, so it was better to watch from outside, haha.

As soon as I heard that, I thought, 'Ah... so that's why I couldn't find any photos online!' ^ㅡㅠ So, we didn't even bother going up to the rooftop.

We didn't personally verify the view, but based on the staff's clear advice, we quickly changed our plans to outdoor viewing!

Overall, the staff were friendly and responsive, which was a plus.

Fireworks Festival Route Recommendation

That evening, we started with dinner at Gaetbeolui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch and then walked all the way to our fireworks viewing spot. From what I recall, it was about 0.6 miles (1 km) and took roughly 15 minutes!

At first, it wasn't too crowded, and I thought, 'Oh, this isn't bad at all.'

But as soon as we crossed the pedestrian bridge down to the park, it suddenly felt like a weekend in Times Square or Disneyland – absolutely packed with people, haha!

On the way back, the area near the National Assembly Building was also incredibly crowded, but after we passed the same pedestrian bridge, the crowd thinned out significantly.

Most people seemed to be heading towards Yeouinaru Station, so we inadvertently benefited from our route, haha.

Our path took us to the Yeouido Ferry Terminal area and back, which was about a 30-minute walk to return to the hotel.

But the best part about the festival ending was this:

not having to squeeze onto crowded public transportation again! We could just walk straight back to the hotel!!

At first, I thought paying ~$316 was a 'stupid tax,' but at this point, my opinion started to shift, haha.

It's a bittersweet feeling to be an adult who can buy time with money.

The Room & Extra Pillows!!

Body pillows are the best!

Oh my goodness, the beds were incredibly comfortable!!!!! Just the right amount of plushness!!

After walking around so much outside, showering and just lying down felt like pure bliss.

And among the extra pillows you could request, they had body pillows?!!

I've never seen a hotel offer body pillows before, but snuggling with one was so cozy. 🥹🤍 My travel companion and I each got one and slept like babies~~~!

There was a bit of ambient noise, but it wasn't bothersome enough to disrupt sleep. The best part of this stay was definitely the sleep, haha!

The Bathroom

The shower, toilet, and sink were all in separate spaces! This is a really important feature for me, and I loved it, hehe.

The cleanliness itself was good, though the bathroom was a bit damp when we first entered.

It wasn't a major inconvenience, but it was noticeable at first glance.

Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were provided, along with other amenities like cotton swabs.

Unexpected Wine Perk

And then there was a pleasant, unexpected bonus during the Fireworks Festival period: they gave us a bottle of red wine and two plastic cups!!

We received a Wolf Blass Bilyara Shiraz. We actually took it outside to drink while watching the fireworks, and it was surprisingly good, haha! I hadn't expected any extras when booking the room, so this was a delightful surprise.

My Recommendation

👍 Recommended

My satisfaction with the beds and body pillows was exceptionally high.

Would I plan to visit again? Absolutely, if the price is around ~$146 or less!! In fact, I just searched for a stay two weeks from now, and it's only ~$109!

(Normally, I book Korean staycations directly through hotel apps, but Agoda is genuinely much cheaper for this hotel; way more affordable than other sites.)

👉 Check Glad Yeouido prices by date

Agoda Official Site | Free Cancellation & Discount Deals | Over 2 Million Properties3ha.in

🤔 Hmm... Not So Sure

I paid ~$316 this time, and even though I slept incredibly well, I probably wouldn't pay that price again, haha. For me, Glad Yeouido isn't so much a 'fireworks view hotel' as it is a hotel where you can walk back and get a great night's sleep after the festival!

If the price comes down to my preferred range (around ~$146 or less), I'd definitely consider staying again~! Hehe, that's all for today's post. Until next time~!~!