Seoul expects crowds to reach 170,000 on New Year’s Eve

Police are stationed for crowd control at the 2023 New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony at Bonsingak Pavilion in Jongno District, central Seoul. [NEWS1]

Crowds of more than 170,000 people are expected to gather at popular sites in Seoul to celebrate the coming of a new year, and the police announced measures to ensure safe celebrations.

These areas include Bosingak Pavilion in downtown Seoul, Lotte World Tower and Mount Namsan.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Friday announced that it will implement crowd safety measures on Sunday and Monday, the last day of this year and the first day of 2024.

According to the police agency, there are a total of 18 major events planned during the two days, including six celebrating the end of the year and 12 celebrating the dawn of the New Year.

The police estimate that some 173,000 people will join the events.

The police said it plans to dispatch 3,265 police officers, including 41 crowd control units and 865 officers from 15 precincts in the areas where it expects a the largest celebration turnouts.

The police estimated that roughly 100,000 people would show up in the annual New Year’s Eve bell-ringing ceremony held at the Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno District, central Seoul.

The police plans to station 450 officers from the Jongno and Namdaemun precincts and some 2,000 from the 34 crowd control squads.

Traffic will be banned along Sejongdae-ro between the KT building and Cheonggye Plaza between 3 p.m. on Dec. 31 until 7 a.m. the next morning.

During the same time, the Saemunan-ro and Jongno roads between Saemoonan Church and the Jongno 2-ga intersection, as well as Woojeonggook-ro, which is between Gopyeong and Gwanggyo, will be closed.

The police added that safety barriers will be set up around the Bosingak Pavilion as well as Sejongdae-ro, where street performances and parades are to take place.

The police plans to take safety precautions regarding subway ventilation grates and glass floors that could easily collapse under the weight of a huge crowd.

The authorities will coordinate with the Seoul Metro to control crowds at major subway stations, including Jonggak Station and Gwanghwamun Station.

It will also keep watch for any unauthorized use of drones or violence.

The police will also roll out safety measures for crowds participating in the New Year’s countdown around Lotte World Tower in southern Seoul, a sunrise event on Mount Acha and other New Year's day events.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]