Task Force Formed to Strengthen Safety Measures
AI Crowd Analysis, CCTV, and Disaster Message Boards in Operation
Mapo District in Seoul (Mayor Park Kangsu) announced on October 22 that it will implement comprehensive "Halloween Safety Management" measures in the Hongdae Red Road area from October 24 to November 1, in cooperation with Mapo Police Station, Mapo Fire Station, and other organizations ahead of Halloween.
Park Kangsu, mayor of Mapo District, is inspecting every corner of Hongdae Red Road to prepare for the crowd congestion on the Friday night before Halloween last year. Provided by Mapo District.
According to data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the daily number of users at Hongik University Station on Line 2 exceeds 167,000, and during Christmas last year, the Hongdae Tourist Special Zone saw a peak of approximately 134,000 people at one time. In anticipation of large crowds during this year's Halloween period, the district has formed a dedicated task force for crowd safety management during Halloween.
Last month, Mapo District discussed the safety management plan with eight organizations, including Mapo Police Station, Mapo Fire Station, and Korea Electric Power Corporation. On the first of this month, the plan was reviewed and all preparations were completed in advance. In addition, on October 13, the district held a "Safety Culture Movement Promotion Council" meeting, presided over by the mayor and attended by relevant agencies and private organizations, to share safety management measures for the Halloween period.
The district has been conducting a pre-inspection period from October 10 to 23, checking key areas such as electrical and fire facilities, safety fences, and emergency evacuation routes in the Red Road area, while strengthening safety measures tailored to on-site conditions.
During the safety management period, an on-site situation room will be set up in the R4 section of Red Road, and the district will cooperate with police and fire authorities to implement phased crowd control and traffic management. A total of 616 personnel will be mobilized for on-site response, including 226 district officials, 120 safety staff, and 270 members from private organizations. From 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. each day, they will conduct inspections and campaigns, focusing on Exit 9 of Hongik University Station, Club Street, and Red Road sections R3 to R5.
The Mapo District CCTV Integrated Control Center and Disaster Safety Situation Room will operate 24 hours a day, monitoring the site in real time and sharing emergency situations. The district will also utilize the "AI Crowd Density Analysis System" installed in nine crowded areas to analyze risk situations in real time and promptly alert pedestrians with warning messages and voice announcements.
Five disaster message electronic display boards on Red Road will broadcast emergency disaster information and crowd behavior guidelines, making them easily accessible to everyone. The district also plans to intensively crack down on illegal parking and unauthorized obstructions to ensure pedestrian safety.
The disaster safety electronic display board installed on Hongdae Red Road is showing the current crowd congestion status. Provided by Mapo District.
Meanwhile, Mapo District, in cooperation with Mapo Police Station, has prepared plans to secure pedestrian walkways in congested areas and to block vehicle entry if crowd density becomes severe.
Mayor Park Kangsu stated, "We will strengthen thorough safety management and inter-agency cooperation so that all visitors to Red Road can enjoy themselves safely," adding, "Believing that there is no such thing as overreacting when it comes to safety, we will do our utmost from preemptive preparation to on-site response."
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