Six Major Districts and Three Festivals Targeted
Traffic and Facility Inspections... Crowd-Detection CCTV in Operation
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 19th that it will implement a "Special Safety Management Plan" for areas expected to see large crowds until January 4 next year. The plan will focus on inspecting traffic measures and facility management in areas such as Myeong-dong and the Itaewon Tourist District.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, 1.08 million people visited the Gwanghwamun Market and the Seoul Lantern Festival from December 12 to 14, which was last weekend. The city anticipates that even more crowds will gather at various events and major streets during the year-end and New Year season, and plans to proactively eliminate safety risks through preemptive inspections.
On the 14th, just over ten days before Christmas, citizens were seen exploring the Christmas Gwanghwamun Market at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
The safety management targets include six locations around Christmas: the Myeong-dong area, Itaewon Tourist District, Seongsu-dong Caf? Street, Hongdae Tourist District, Gangnam Station, and Apgujeong Rodeo Street, as well as three year-end and New Year events: the New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony, Achasan Sunrise Festival, and Namsan Park Sunrise Event. In these areas, emergency response systems will be maintained, including strengthening communication and information-sharing systems among relevant agencies.
In particular, for the six locations expected to experience crowd surges around Christmas, the city, district offices, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, police, and fire authorities will jointly conduct focused inspections of situation management systems, crowd control measures, traffic plans, rescue and supply measures, and facility management until December 24.
During the Christmas events on December 24 and 25, the city will monitor the situation in real time through the disaster safety communication network and mobile situation rooms. If any risks arise, information will be immediately communicated to citizens along with guidance on appropriate actions.
For the three sunrise and sunset festivals, from December 31 to January 4 next year, the city, district offices, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, police, and fire authorities will jointly check whether the pre-established safety management plans are being implemented. For the New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony on December 31, which draws more than 100,000 people annually, relevant agencies will operate an emergency work system on the day and strengthen on-site safety management. The city aims to maintain order so that citizens can safely enjoy the bell-ringing event.
The city has completed a review of the comprehensive year-end and New Year safety management plan through a safety management committee composed of experts, and will hold a "Final Safety Management Plan Inspection Meeting" on December 23, presided over by the head of the Disaster and Safety Office, with participation from the city, district offices, police, and fire authorities. In addition, during the special safety management period, 1,086 crowd-detection CCTV cameras will be operated in 91 areas across 25 districts to prepare for accidents. These devices automatically measure the number of people per unit area and alert authorities to signs of crowd congestion in advance, helping to prevent accidents.
Han Byungyong, Director of the Seoul Disaster and Safety Office, said, "This year as well, we will implement rigorous safety management in areas expected to attract large crowds during the year-end and New Year period, in cooperation with district offices and relevant agencies. We also ask for citizens' cooperation to ensure a safe and happy holiday season for everyone."
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