(ATTN: Includes details on city government measures, photo)
By Lee Haye-ah
Safety will be the top priority at the highly anticipated concert scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday at Gwanghwamun Square. Authorities will implement a strict density control policy, limiting the crowd to one person per square meter, according to a Seoul Metropolitan Police official.
Police estimate that approximately 260,000 people will gather in the area spanning from Gwanghwamun Square to Sungnye Gate. This is the largest crowd expected since the 2002 World Cup, which drew around 250,000 cheering fans.
Random security checks will be conducted throughout the day. To maintain order and safety, 72 riot police teams and 35 detective teams will be deployed to the concert area.
Attendees entering the designated crowd control zone will be required to pass through metal detectors and will be subject to searches for prohibited items.
“We are committed to creating the safest environment possible for this open, public event, especially considering the tragic events of the Itaewon crowd crush in 2022,” the police official stated, referencing the incident that resulted in 159 fatalities.
The Seoul city government will establish an on-site headquarters near Gwanghwamun Square, operational from 10 a.m. Saturday. This headquarters will include officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Jung-gu and Jongno-gu ward offices, as well as police and fire department personnel.
Approximately 8,200 personnel will be deployed to monitor the situation and ensure real-time safety management, according to city officials.
Medical booths will be strategically located in three zones to provide immediate assistance in case of emergencies. Safety fences will be installed in potentially hazardous areas near Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul Plaza, and Cheonggye Plaza. Furthermore, the city has secured 2,551 public restroom facilities in the vicinity of the concert.
To accommodate international visitors, the city government will expand language support services, offering assistance in English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Mongolian through the city call center. Volunteers and interpreters will also be present at the concert venue to provide on-site assistance.
