Traffic measures promised after jam due to Han River night market

Banpo Hangang Park in southern Seoul is crowded with people on Aug. 26, the day the Hangang Moon Light Market reopened after three years. [YONHAP]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will draw up measures to deal with the traffic chaos that took place near Banpo Hangang Park in southern Seoul over the weekend, the city government announced Monday.

The reopening of the night market along the southern side of the Han River in Seocho District, southern Seoul, after nearly three years attracted over 130,000 visitors from Aug. 26 to 27, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Over 50,000 visitors came to the market on Friday Aug. 26, the first day the market reopened, and over 80,000 people on Saturday.

This is more than twice the average number of visitors from before the pandemic.

The average traffic speed in Seocho District dropped to 23.3 kilometers (14.5 miles) per hour on Friday, slower than the 29.9 kilometers per hour average from the previous day, according to Seoul’s Transport Operation & Information Service.

“We are aware of the necessity of traffic measures,” said a spokesperson for the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
“Specific plans will be made shortly.”

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]