A calm atmosphere at the ”New Year's Eve bell ringing”... ”Praying for a safe society” = Korea

South Korea held a subdued bell-ringing ceremony to ring in the New Year 2025. The event was scaled down as it came amid a wave of nationwide mourning following the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster.
Among the citizens who participated in the event, many expressed their hopes for a "safe society" rather than for the coming year. At midnight on the 1st, a bell rang 33 times at Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to announce the beginning of the new year in 2025.
The moment the bell was struck, a 30-meter-diameter "midnight sun" appeared behind Bosingak. Citizens gathered around Bosingak, all holding their cell phones in an attempt to capture the spectacle.
This year's New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony was held more solemnly than usual. On the 29th of last month, a Jeju Air passenger plane crashed while landing at Muan Airport in South Jeolla Province.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government canceled the lighting show that was originally planned for the New Year's Eve bell ringing and decided to keep the sound off during the countdown.
The decision was made not to use the reverberation effects. In addition, the scheduled performances and shows were also canceled. The bell tolling on New Year's Eve was also done with consideration for a moment of silence for the victims.
The host, Oh Sang-jin-ah Naeun-sama, told the audience, "We will hold a moment of silence to mourn the victims who died in the Jeju Air passenger plane accident."
The civilians who were selected for the memorial service bowed their heads in unison to mourn the victims. The bell tolling on New Year's Eve included actor Go Doo-shim, Kim Seong Kyu (INFINITE)'s former baseball manager, and Park Jun-hyung, a firefighter.
Only civilians, including government officials, participated. Seoul Mayor Oh Sehun and City Council Chairman Choi Ho-jeong were absent. Citizens also called for a "safe society."
Ahn Yun-min (19), who said it took five hours to get there, said with a smile, "I took the National Center Test for University Admissions this year. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the university I wanted to go to."
"I hope this will be a year where I can become a face. I hope we can create a society where nothing happens and people can work hard at their jobs with ease," he said.