Seoul pledges crowd control for 'safe and sound' Fireworks Festival

Social Affairs

Published: 05 Oct. 2023, 18:25 Updated: 05 Oct. 2023, 21:41

Seoul pledges crowd control for 'safe and sound' Fireworks Festival

A scene from the 2022 Seoul International Fireworks Festival that took place at Yeouido in western Seoul on Oct. 8, 2022. The festival took place for the first time in three years due to Covid-19. [KANG JUNG-HYUN]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday rolled out safety measures to prevent accidents from overcrowding ahead of the Seoul International Fireworks Festival slated for Saturday.

The annual festival hosted by Hanwha attracted more than a million people last year, according to the company. Last year’s event was the first in three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the city government, roads near Yeouido Hangang Park in western Seoul, where the festival will be held, and entering Yeouinaru Station will be restricted for safety concerns.

The fireworks show — with participants from Korea, China and Poland this year — will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday and last about 90 minutes.

Yeouidong-ro, which connects the southern part of Mapo Bridge to 63 Square, also known as the 63 Building, will be restricted from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., buses that pass stops near the festival site, such as Yeouido Transfer Center and Yeouido and Yeouinaru Station, will be increased so that visitors can leave on public transportation.

However, entering Yeouinaru Station will be restricted from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. to minimize overcrowding.

Subways may also pass Yeouinaru Station without stopping from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. if the platform is too congested.

During the hour, 70 additional subway routes will operate along lines No. 5 and 7.

[HANWHA]

The city government will deploy 277 safety agents at nearby subway platforms, four times more than usual.

A safety center, ambulances, fire trucks and medical personnel will also be deployed to the venue.

According to the city government, surveillance cameras will be installed around the event site to monitor overcrowding in the area.

The metropolitan government inspected the site with Yeodeungpo police on Thursday and will check the area with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on Friday.

The city government said it will use “every executive power to ensure the Seoul International Fireworks Festival is safe and sound.”

The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s safety checks for the fireworks festival came amid 600 big and small events expected to occur nationwide this month.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety designated Sept. 27 to Nov. 30 to enhance safety checks in areas hosting festivals during the fall season.

The government also said it will pay special attention to events with no specific organizers, such as Halloween and Christmas.

The ministry will conduct joint inspections with district offices before Halloween Day in places such as Itaewon in central Seoul and Hongdae in western Seoul to prevent tragedies like last year's Halloween crowd crush.

The government also plans to conduct a joint safety inspection by the Interior Ministry, fire department, and police for the Busan Fireworks Festival scheduled for Nov. 4.

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