How the Candlelight Concert Transformed Suncheonman National Garden into a Nighttime Tourist Hotspot

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Suncheonman National Garden proved it can keep visitors longer by offering nighttime cultural programming.

Suncheon City reported that about 12,000 people attended the Candlelight Concert held on the 5th at the garden’s Space Hub.

The grounds were decked out in spring flowers — alliums, peonies, geraniums and chrysanthemums — and lit by 15,000 candles. A string quartet set the mood, and singers Choi Yuri and Lee Seok-hoon performed in an outdoor garden concert format.

Visitors responded warmly to the mix of scenery and live music. On social media, people praised the evening atmosphere, the show’s production and the audience’s orderly behavior.

Despite the large turnout, the event ran smoothly. Suncheon City managed crowd movement with temporary fences, designated safety zones, and separate blanket and chair areas. Volunteers, a drivers’ association, police, fire and medical teams, and environmental crews supported on-site operations.

No significant damage to the flowers was reported, and many visitors were even seen picking up their own trash.

Officials view the event as a litmus test for expanding Suncheonman National Garden beyond daytime sightseeing into nighttime, stay-oriented programming. If visitors linger into the evening in the garden and downtown, local restaurants, cafés and hotels are likely to benefit, linking the event to the wider local economy.