Over 3,000 Police Officers Deployed in Downtown Seoul for New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony Crowd Control

The police will deploy a large number of officers and implement safety management measures, including vehicle controls, in major event venues in downtown Seoul where large crowds are expected during the year-end and New Year's period.

On December 30, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that from December 31 to January 1, 2025, it will implement comprehensive safety management measures for crowd control and order maintenance in preparation for year-end and New Year's events with large gatherings, such as the "2025 New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony."

During this period, the police will deploy a total of 3,063 officers, including 31 mobile units and relevant departments for crisis management, traffic, and crime prevention, focusing on areas where large crowds are expected, such as Jongno and Namdaemun.

In particular, for the Bosingak New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony, safety fences will be installed to divide the event area into 12 zones, and the site will be controlled to ensure that the number of people in each zone does not exceed capacity.

Additionally, as congestion and crowding are expected at Jonggak Station at the end of the event, Seoul Metro will proactively implement non-stop train operations at this station during that time.

In the Jongno area, where traffic congestion is anticipated, phased vehicle controls will be implemented before and after the end of the event. Major roads such as Jongno, Ujeongguk-ro, and Cheonggye North-ro will be subject to vehicle restrictions from 6 p.m. on December 31 to 7 a.m. the following day, and the police will deploy 400 traffic officers and patrol units.

The police will also support safety management measures in cooperation with local districts for 29 year-end and New Year's countdown and sunrise events held throughout Seoul, including the countdown show near Shinsegae Department Store in Myeong-dong and the "Seoul Light" event at Dongdaemun DDP.

A police official stated, "As significant congestion is expected at crowded venues during the year-end and New Year's period, we ask for active cooperation with police guidance to maintain order and ensure a safe start to the new year."