"1 Million People Expected"... Police Control Tightened Amid Concerns of Chaos at Yeouido Fireworks Festival

[Financial News] The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the police have begun emergency security measures to prevent massive congestion at the 'Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026,' which is expected to draw a crowd of one million people. Traffic control will be implemented on the 5th in the Yeouido area of Seoul, the venue for the main event, to prevent chaos. Unlike previous years, this year's fireworks festival will feature a pre-festival event, leading to increased activity by the police to manage the crowds over the two days.
The main event of the fireworks festival will be held from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on this day, with the fireworks show starting at 8 p.m. However, the area around Yeouido Hangang Park has been filled with mats reserved in advance since the 3rd, the day before the festival's eve. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is requesting citizens on-site to refrain from disorderly occupying spots and is asking for their cooperation in maintaining order.
The police are anticipating traffic congestion throughout downtown Seoul due to the fireworks festival being held in Yeouido on this day.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government is recommending that people avoid the crowded Yeouinaru Station and disperse to exits 4 and 5 of Yeouido Station (Lines 5 and 9), exits 2 and 3 of Saetgang Station (Lines 9 and Sillim Line), and exits 1 and 4 of Mapo Station (Line 5). On this day, Line 5 will operate 18 additional runs and Line 9 will operate 65 additional runs.
The police plan to control vehicle access to major roads near the festival site and have some subway stations and bus stops pass through without stopping.
Yeouinaru Station on Subway Line 5, which is expected to be the busiest on the day of the event, will implement preemptive non-stop passage from 7 PM to 10 PM. The police plan to coordinate with the transportation corporation to advance the non-stop time if control measures are necessary, such as due to station congestion, even before the scheduled time.
First, Yeouidong-ro in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (from the southern end of Mapo Bridge to the 63 Building) will be completely closed from 3 p.m. to midnight on this day. At six locations, including Yeouinaru-ro, the plan is to selectively allow only vehicles belonging to apartment residents and event vehicles to pass.
Traffic on Wonhyo Bridge will be completely restricted in both directions from 9 a.m. on this day until 3 a.m. on the 6th for the installation and dismantling of fireworks. Vehicle access to the 63 Building from Olympic-daero and Nodeul-gil will be controlled flexibly depending on the situation at the site on the day.
The police plan to tow away illegally parked vehicles on Han River bridges and expressways (Gangbyeonbuk-ro and Olympic-daero).
After the event ends, traffic on Yeouinaru-ro and other areas will be managed with the highest priority on pedestrian safety. Mapo Bridge and Hangang Bridge will close one lane to secure additional pedestrian walkways.
Some bus routes will also be adjusted. Buses passing through Wonhyo Bridge will be rerouted from 9 a.m. until the last bus on this day, and buses passing through Yeouidong-ro will be rerouted from 3 p.m. to midnight. A total of 24 routes, including 18 city buses, 2 village buses, 1 airport bus, and 3 Gyeonggi buses, are subject to temporary rerouting.
Some buses do not stop at four bus stops in the Hangang Bridge area. From 4:00 PM to 9:20 PM, 16 city buses pass through two Nodeul Island bus stops and two Hangang Bridge Observatory Cafe bus stops without stopping.
Buses on 26 routes passing through the Yeouido Transfer Center and Yeouido Station will be dispatched at increased frequencies between 7 and 8 PM, when crowds flock, and between 10 and 11 PM, when the returning crowds are concentrated. The police plan to deploy a total of approximately 4,700 officers, including 51 riot police units and 28 regional preventive patrol teams, until the 5th to handle safety management and 112 emergency calls.


[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter