With the performance by the group BTS one day away, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has issued a venue disaster alert.
Minister Chae Hwi-young of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) visited the Gwanghwamun site where BTS's comeback performance will be held and the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, where the MCST situation management headquarters will be installed, on the morning of the 20th to personally inspect preparations and the safety management system.
According to the MCST, this inspection was arranged to comprehensively review in advance crowd concentration, stage facility safety, and response systems in case of an emergency at a large-scale event that is drawing global attention.
In particular, with an estimated 170,000 to as many as 260,000 spectators expected to gather around Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung, officials are known to have focused on rechecking on-site cooperation systems between the organizers and related agencies and on creating a safe environment for attending the performance.
To establish an even more thorough safety response posture, the MCST will issue a venue disaster alert level of "caution" for Jung-gu and Jongno-gu in Seoul from 7 a.m. on March 21 to 7 a.m. on March 22. This alert is based on the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety, and this is the first time a crisis alert has been issued targeting a performance venue.
Minister Chae Hwi-young said, "Because this event is a symbolic moment when fans of 'K-culture' around the world and the public focus their attention and share the appeal of 'K-culture', safety is the top priority above all," and added, "The government will work closely with the organizers and related agencies to do its utmost in on-site safety management so that spectators can enjoy the performance safely and happily."
He added, "Ticket scalping not only undermines a fair performance culture, but even if someone purchases a scalped ticket, entry may be restricted or viewing the performance may be impossible due to on-site identity checks, so special caution is required. We ask for thorough management by the organizers and active cooperation from fans."
Meanwhile, BTS released their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, on the 20th and will hold a comeback live at around 8 p.m. on the 21st in the Gwanghwamun square area in Seoul. The performance will be broadcast live worldwide via Netflix, and about 22,000 spectators are expected to attend offline.
[Photo] BigHit Music
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