Seodaemun-gu Spring Light Festival (Hongje Waterfall·Ansan) Attracts 410,000 Visitors

Measuring the Number of Visitors at the Spring Light Festival Using Smartphone Signal Detection

During the 2024 Seodaemun Spring Light Festival (March 30 to April 7), the number of visitors to Seodaemun Hongje Waterfall and Ansan (鞍山) exceeded 410,000.

This figure was derived using a total of 18 'floating population sensors' installed by Seodaemun-gu (District Mayor Lee Seongheon) along the Ansan Jarak-gil trail and Hongjecheon Stream.

The 'floating population sensor' refers to MEC (Mobile Edge Computing)-based smart technology that collects WiFi wireless signal data emitted from visitors' smartphones through IoT sensors.

The collection range can be set within a maximum radius of 100 meters depending on the purpose, and installation is possible wherever there is electricity and wired or wireless networks. The district installs these sensors on CCTV or smart poles (intelligent pillars) to manage crowds in key areas.

According to the data, the highest number of visitors during the festival was between 12 PM and 5 PM (approximately 6,000 people), and on April 6 and 7, more than 70,000 people visited Seodaemun Hongje Waterfall and Ansan.

Considering children without smartphones and users of phones without WiFi functionality, it is estimated that even more people attended the Seodaemun Spring Light Festival.

Seodaemun-gu plans to install additional floating population sensors to more accurately track visitor numbers at Hongje Waterfall and Ansan, which have become hot places in Seoul. The data will also be used for safety management at various large-scale events.

District Mayor Lee Seongheon stated, “We will continue to implement administration based on scientific data to create a safer and smarter Seodaemun-gu.”