BTS puts Gwanghwamun on high alert... Police even restrict civilian firearms

[Financial News] Security measures are tightening by the day ahead of BTS’s comeback concert scheduled for March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square.
According to News1, Yonhap News Agency and others on the 17th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) sent an official notice on the 12th to crime-prevention units at local police stations. The document stated that civilian-owned firearms may not be released from storage around March 21, the day of the concert.
Such bans on taking civilian-owned firearms out of storage are usually implemented during the Lunar New Year holidays or when international summits are held, as a precaution against potential safety incidents.
Because the concert is expected to draw up to 260,000 people, the measure is seen as an attempt to block any possibility of terrorism or safety accidents from the outset.
Under the Act on the Safety Management of Guns, Swords, Explosives, etc., individuals licensed to possess firearms must store guns, live ammunition and blank cartridges at locations designated by the permitting authority. To use them, they must obtain prior approval for the purpose of use and apply to have the storage requirement lifted.
In addition to banning the release of privately owned firearms, police plan to deploy more than 6,500 officers to thoroughly prevent safety accidents and manage the crowds.
Hybe also sent official letters last week to major nearby hospitals, asking them to cooperate by swiftly admitting and treating any emergency patients that may occur on the day of the concert. The recipients reportedly included large hospitals such as Severance Hospital, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital and Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital.
This is part of efforts to establish a pre-arranged cooperation system with nearby emergency medical centers ahead of a large-scale concert that will draw dense crowds.
On the day of the event, the main entrances of 31 buildings near Gwanghwamun Square, which has been designated a priority control zone, will be closed. Access to rooftops and other upper floors of 25 additional buildings will also be restricted. Traffic on major nearby roads, including Sejong-daero, Sajik-ro, Yulgok-ro, Saemunan-ro and Jongno, is also set to be controlled.
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter