Police to Control Traffic Around Military Parade and Transit Routes on October 26, Armed Forces Day

Traffic in downtown Seoul and on roads in the southeastern area where military units will be moving is expected to be restricted due to the military parade commemorating Armed Forces Day scheduled for the 26th.

Traffic control is scheduled due to the military parade commemorating Armed Forces Day on the 26th. [Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 20th that traffic control will be implemented on the routes used by military personnel and armored units, as well as the parade route, in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the armed forces.

First, on the day of the event, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, when armored units including K2 tanks will be moving, traffic will be restricted for two hours on all lanes in the direction of travel along the route starting from Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, passing through Heolleung-ro, Yangjae-daero, Dongjak-daero, Hyeonchung-ro, and Hangang-daero. Additionally, from 1:40 PM to 2:50 PM, when military personnel transport buses will be moving, flexible traffic management will be implemented to reduce traffic volume on Dongbu Expressway and Gangbyeonbuk-ro.

From 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, traffic will be restricted in both directions from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the area of Sejong-daero (between Sungnyemun and Gwanghwamun), where the parade will take place. Vehicles traveling through the downtown area will be rerouted via Namdaemun-ro (Jongno 1-ga to Euljiro Entrance to Bank of Korea to Sungnyemun) and Tongil-ro (Seodaemun to Police Agency). Traffic on Seosomun-ro (Police Agency to City Hall) is expected to resume from 4:30 PM. Afterward, military personnel and armored units will regroup and disband at Hyoja-ro, Cheongwadae, and Samcheong-ro. These areas will be restricted from the time of regrouping until the restrictions are gradually lifted by 6:00 AM the following day.

Traffic control will be implemented in the sections where military personnel and forces move for the National Armed Forces Day parade on the 26th. [Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]

Entry of general vehicles and route buses will be blocked on the armored unit movement routes. Route buses on these routes will operate only up to the nearest subway stations before turning back. Additionally, vehicle entry and exit at Yeomgok Intersection to the Gyeongbu Expressway will be blocked, and vehicles using the Gyeongbu Expressway will be rerouted via Seocho IC or Pangyo IC. Traffic on Gwacheon-daero (Gwanmun Intersection to Sadang Station) and Dongjak-daero (Sadang Station to Isu Station to Isu Intersection) will be restricted on all lanes in the direction of travel, and traffic will also be limited on Hyeonchung-ro from Isu Intersection to Hyeonchungwon and on Dongjak Bridge. Furthermore, to ensure the safety of the Hangang Bridge structure, all vehicles traveling southbound on Hangang-daero at the southern end of Hangang Bridge will be completely restricted.

The police will deploy about 1,000 personnel throughout all traffic-restricted areas to ensure citizen safety and minimize traffic inconvenience. They will also install traffic guidance signboards and manage traffic flow by directing vehicles to detours. A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official stated, "As a large-scale movement of armored units and a downtown parade will take place ahead of the Chuseok holiday, severe traffic congestion is expected," and urged, "Please use public transportation such as the subway and refrain from driving in the downtown area."