Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency deploys large-scale police force to manage safety of Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is focusing its police force on on-site safety management, predicting that a large crowd will flock to the main event of the 'Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026' held on the 5th.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government's Deputy Director of Public Safety will oversee safety management at the event site, and police officers will be deployed intensively to major entrances and subway stations near Yeouido, where the fireworks festival will be held.

Considering the recent number of false reports of bomb threats, especially in crowded city centers, measures are being taken to prevent related risks.

Prior to the event, police special forces conducted a preliminary search with police dogs throughout the event site in preparation for objects suspected of being explosives.

When a report of a bomb threat is received, a joint analysis and response team, including counter-terrorism, detectives, and 112, determines the level of risk and cooperates with the organizer to evacuate visitors to a safe location and conduct safety inspections and on-site control of the suspected location.

The police will also install car barriers in areas such as Yeouidong-ro (southern end of Mapo Bridge to Building 63) from 3 p.m. to midnight on this day to prepare for vehicle terrorism or sudden acceleration accidents.

The district unit in charge of the event venue strengthens patrols from the stage of transporting fireworks to the end of the event, and operates a 'Fireworks (Fireworks) Safety Situation Room' on the day of the event to carry out preventive activities.

To prevent fireworks festival visitors from stopping on roads or bridges due to crowds of visitors, police deploy patrol cars and motorcycles on major roads such as Olympic-daero, Gangbyeonbuk-ro, Yanghwa, Seogang, Mapo, Han River, and Dongjak Bridge.

The Hangang Police Force deploys five patrol boats to prevent ships from entering between Mapo Bridge and Hangang Bridge.

They also crack down on ticket scalping and seat tax collection. Metropolitan prevention patrols and law enforcement officers will crack down on the spot, and a dedicated investigation team will also be operated to prevent illegal ticket reservations using macros.

In addition, the police will deploy 12 teams of detectives and a detective squad vehicle in crowded areas of the event venue and closed-circuit (CC) TV blind spots to prepare for various abnormally motivated crimes, such as crimes using weapons.

A high-altitude observation vehicle that can check the crowding situation through the naked eye and cameras from a height of 7 meters above the ground was also mobilized.

Inspector Yoo Gye-jun of the security department at Yeongdeungpo Police Station met with reporters this morning and said, “Both the police and the organizers deployed an increased number of personnel compared to last year, and police equipment was additionally increased compared to last year.”

Police and organizers expect about 530,000 visitors to attend the fireworks festival on this day.

Inspector Yu said, “It is expected that it will take a long time to travel to and from the Yeouido area even if you use public transportation such as subways and buses,” and added, “I hope that citizens will have a relaxed mind and cooperate with police control.”

Vehicle traffic and subway operations will also be controlled around the event site.

The police completely control vehicle traffic on Yeouidong-ro (southern end of Mapo Bridge to Building 63) from 3 p.m. to midnight.

Wonhyo Bridge will be completely blocked from vehicular traffic in both directions from 9 a.m. on this day to 3 a.m. on the following day, the 6th.

Trains pass through Yeouinaru Station without stopping for three hours from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Detailed traffic conditions can be checked through the Seoul Metropolitan Government's traffic information portal 'TOPIS', the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's traffic information hotline (☎ 02-700-5000), the Traffic Information Center's website (www.spatic.go.kr), and KakaoTalk (Seoul Police Traffic Information).