Fireworks Festival 112 Reports Surge 52%... Crackdown on Selling Reserved Viewing Spots

[Financial News] The number of 112 reports related to the Seoul International Fireworks Festival rose by more than 50% from last year, police data showed.
Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station said on the 18th that it received 425 reports related to the Seoul International Fireworks Festival, held on the 5th, marking a 52% increase from the previous year.
Through the 112 Emergency Response Team deployed at the festival site, police arrested suspects in three sexual violence cases and one theft case. They also cracked down on four other crimes, including charging people for viewing spots they had occupied in advance and then sold.
The 112 Emergency Response Team was formed separately with 20 police officers in anticipation of situations in which patrol cars would have difficulty reaching areas crowded with people. The measure enabled officers to respond to the scene on foot when reports came in.
Additional personnel were also deployed in preparation for a rise in reports. Police assigned the Metropolitan Preventive Patrol Unit and the Public Safety Mobile Unit to preventive patrols, while increasing staffing at the 112 Situation Room and Yeouido Police Substation.
Police also restricted entry to prevent people from gathering in hazardous areas and guided visitors along one-way routes. When crowding reached critical levels, they coordinated with Seoul Metro to have trains pass through without stopping.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Seoul Metropolitan Government are reportedly planning to present commendations to police officers who contributed to safety management.
A police official stated, "The civic spirit shown by people who tolerated the inconvenience and followed the restrictions stood out," adding, "Based on the conditions at the site and the police response discussed at the post-festival assessment meeting, we will work to ensure that next year's festival is safe as well."
[email protected] Park Seong-hyeon Reporter