Driving to Jamsil This Weekend? ... "You'll Experience Traffic Hell"

Severe Congestion Expected Around Jamsil Due to Baseball Games and Concerts, April 18-20
Multiple Rallies Planned in Downtown Seoul
City Urges Public to Use Public Transportation

Severe traffic congestion is expected around the Jamsil Sports Complex area in Seoul through the weekend, as professional baseball games and concerts are scheduled to take place in succession. The Seoul Metropolitan Government, concerned about large crowds gathering, has urged the public to use public transportation.

According to the city on April 18, a three-game professional baseball series between the Kia Tigers and the Doosan Bears will be held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium from this day through April 20. At the same time, the trot concert "2025 Hyeonyeok Gawang 2 National Tour" will be held at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium during the same period, with approximately 100,000 baseball fans and concertgoers expected to visit.

Seoul Subway Line 5 Gwanghwamun Station is bustling with citizens. Photo by Jo Yongjun

A city official stated, "Traffic congestion on roads near the Jamsil Sports Complex is inevitable during the event period," and appealed, "For a safe and pleasant experience, we ask citizens to use public transportation as much as possible." The official added, "As the shortage of parking spaces is expected to continue in the future, we hope visitors to the Jamsil Sports Complex will make a habit of using public transportation." Since September 2024, the Jamsil Sports Complex has been unable to use parking lots 1, 3, 4, and 5 due to the renovation of the Olympic Main Stadium, which will last until December 2026. As a result, the number of parking spaces has been reduced from 1,556 to 876, nearly halving the available parking and making parking space scarce.

Meanwhile, traffic congestion is expected to worsen this weekend as rallies are scheduled to take place at various locations in downtown Seoul. According to police and other sources on April 18, the Liberty Unification Party, led by Pastor Jun Kwanghoon, will hold the "People's Right of Resistance Gwanghwamun National Rally" in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu at 1:00 p.m. on April 19. The reported number of participants for this rally, which protests the impeachment of former President Yoon Sukyeol, is 180,000. On the same day at 3:00 p.m., "Jayudaehak," a group supporting former President Yoon, also plans to hold the "Yoon Again March" in front of Exit 4 of Sinsa Station.

The "Emergency Action for Liquidation of Rebellion and Major Social Reform" will hold a rally and citizens' march with a reported 100,000 participants from 5:30 p.m. between Gyeongbokgung Dongshipjagak and Naejadong. Separately, "Candlelight Action" will host the 136th National Candlelight March in front of Exit 7 of Seoul City Hall Station at 3:00 p.m. On April 20, the Korean Medical Association will hold a nationwide doctors' rally from 2:00 p.m. between Exit 8 of City Hall Station and Sungnyemun, with a reported participation of 10,000. In addition, the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities will hold the "National Day of Action to Eliminate Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities" at Marronnier Park in Daehangno starting at noon, with the event scheduled to last overnight for two days.