Seoul Lights Up the Han River With Thanos, Doctor Doom and Marvel Heroes in a Record Drone Show Ahead of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Marvel’s marketing for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ has already taken over snack aisles, popcorn buckets and theme park displays, and now it has taken over the night sky above Seoul. The city staged a Marvel-themed drone show over the Han River on Halloween, and the first footage is making the rounds online.

The performance was the final Han River drone show of the year and the largest the city has ever put on. It was staged in partnership with The Walt Disney Company Korea as part of a wider Halloween celebration tied to the upcoming film.

The first look at the show features an enormous Thanos formed by glowing drones, complete with his Infinity Gauntlet, hovering above the river against the city skyline. The video carries Marvel and Seoul My Soul branding, and it gives fans a taste of what the performance had in store.

First look at the drone show for ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’ in Korea. https://t.co/q51ARPgNrr

— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) October 31, 2026

The performance, titled ‘Marvel Special’, began at 8:30 p.m. at Ttukseom Hangang Park in eastern Seoul. The 15-minute show used 2,000 drones, a record for the city’s Han River series, to recreate Iron Man and other Marvel characters alongside iconic scenes from the films.

Reports said the lineup also included heroes such as Thor and Doctor Strange. Synchronized formations were set to music, with a professional sound system provided through a partnership with HARMAN International and JBL Professional.

The drone show was only part of the evening. Ahead of the performance, the park hosted a photo zone themed around ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, featuring a large display inspired by Doctor Doom’s throne and stained-glass imagery.

A social media photo event ran from noon to 7 p.m., with Marvel merchandise handed out to the first 1,000 eligible participants. There was also a costume parade, event booths and discount coupons through the food delivery app Baemin, while a farmers’ market operated near Jayang Station.

Because Halloween crowds were expected, the city deployed additional safety personnel and increased subway service near the venue.

The Han River drone shows launched in 2023 as part of Seoul’s push to turn the river into a nighttime attraction. They have grown rapidly, with about 197,000 spectators across 7 performances through October 9 this year.

Average attendance reached about 28,000 per show, compared with 11,000 when the series began. City officials have also reported a boost in spending, with card sales in nearby business districts rising on show nights.

Disney Korea is no stranger to the format. A Star Wars-themed show using 2,000 drones took place at Jamsil Hangang Park on May 5, tied to Children’s Day, and the 2025 series featured a ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ performance.

He used to be different. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters everywhere December 18. Get your tickets now: https://t.co/J5PUbxvAkc https://t.co/OUutSMZneq

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 15, 2026

The same day, Korea hosted a Marvel Run in Inje, Gangwon, where runners competed on tracks decorated with film-inspired touches and received limited-edition medals. A live DJ played soundtracks from the franchise during the race.

Together with the drone show, it formed a day of events meant to build excitement for the film. Korean reports said ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ opens in Korean theaters on December 16, two days before its December 18 U.S. release.

Thanos is an interesting choice for a campaign built around Doctor Doom. He is the villain who defined the last Avengers era, and the Infinity Gauntlet is one of the franchise’s most recognizable images.

The film itself is a reunion event, with the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and more facing Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom. It is also the first Avengers movie in 7 years, so nostalgia is a big part of the pitch.

For fans in Seoul, the drone show offered a chance to see that history lit up above the water. For everyone else, the footage is another sign of how aggressively Marvel is pushing the film across the globe.

With about 6 weeks to go before release, expect more stunts like this. Marvel has already used light shows, installations, food partnerships and theater collectibles, and each one has drawn plenty of attention online.

The Seoul show may not reveal any new plot details, but it shows how far the campaign has stretched. Fans who couldn’t be there in person can at least watch the clips as they appear.

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