Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announces large-scale safety management plan for Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026
Quick Look
- The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will focus its police force on on-site safety management as a large crowd is expected for the main event of the Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026, which will be held on the 5th.
- Comprehensive safety measures have been prepared, including preventive measures against the increase in false reports of bomb threats, installation of barriers to prevent vehicle terrorism, traffic control on major roads and subways, crackdown on ticket smuggling, and deployment of detectives in crowded areas.
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Why It Matters
The Seoul International Fireworks Festival is an event that attracts large crowds every year, and the police have prepared preemptive safety measures to reflect the recent increase in false reports of bomb threats in the city.
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.
Police special forces conduct a preliminary search of the event venue in preparation for objects suspected of explosives, etc. before the event, and install car barriers at key points in preparation for vehicle terrorist attacks.
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 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.
On the day of the fireworks festival, vehicle traffic and subway operations will also be controlled.
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).
Open Questions
- How many visitors are expected for this year's fireworks festival?
- What are the specific punishment standards for cracking down on ticket scalping?
- How will pedestrian detour routes be guided due to the installation of barriers?







