Police Expect 260,000 People at BTS Gwanghwamun Comeback Concert, Plan Special Operations Unit Deployment for Anti-Terror Response

According to Financial News, police expect up to 260,000 people to gather for the BTS comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square on the 21st of next month and have decided to deploy a Special Operations Unit as part of anti-terror measures.
Park Jung-bo, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA), said on the 9th, "We have designated the deputy chief for public safety as head of the task force (TF), and all departments are preparing so the event can be held safely."
Police also identified areas where large crowds are likely to gather. They estimate about 230,000 people could fill the area from the performance stage at the northern entrance of Gwanghwamun Square, across from the Gwanghwamun Gate terrace, down to Deoksugung Palace’s Daehanmun Gate, and up to 260,000 people if the crowd extends to Sungnyemun Gate (Namdaemun).
Park noted, "We do not know if it will actually reach that level, but we are preparing on the assumption that as many people as possible could gather."
In response, the police will divide the concert area into four main zones according to crowd density: a "core zone," "hot zone," "warm zone," and "cold zone." These will then be subdivided into 15 sections, each overseen by a senior superintendent as the responsible commander.

To prepare for possible assaults, disturbances, or terrorist acts at the site, 13 violent crime teams from nine local police stations will be deployed for immediate response. The Special Operations Unit (SOU) will also be stationed forward to conduct explosives checks, monitor suspicious individuals, and carry out terrorism prevention and suppression activities.
Anticipating the possibility of online threats being posted, the Cyber Crime Investigation Unit will run a dedicated team to monitor such content and seek immediate punishment once it appears.
HYBE, the concert organizer, has said it will secure 3,553 safety personnel. However, the police are demanding additional safety measures for citizens, citing the "beneficiary-pays principle" that places event management responsibility on the organizer.
The police will also apply charges under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection and obstruction of business to those who unfairly reserve free tickets using macro (automated input) programs or disrupt ticketing by causing server failures. They are further preparing for potential fraud schemes involving the sale of fake tickets or accommodation vouchers.
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter