On March 1st next month, large-scale rallies supporting and opposing the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol will be held in various locations in downtown Seoul, leading to expected traffic congestion. Police have urged the public to use public transport whenever possible.
According to police on the 28th, the rally against the impeachment of President Yoon will be held separately in Gwanghwamun and Yeouido. The Korea Restoration Movement Headquarters, led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang First Church, will hold a rally starting at 1 p.m. on the 1st in the area around Sejong-daero. It will then march through Eulji-ro towards the Constitutional Court.
At the same time, the conservative Christian group Save Korea will hold a 'March 1st National Emergency Prayer Meeting' on Yeouido. A group of college students opposing the impeachment, called 'Free University,' has announced plans to declare their position at noon, then march to Bosingak.
The candlelight action calling for the impeachment of President Yoon will be held at 2 p.m. on the 1st at Anguk-dong Intersection near the Constitutional Court, as part of the '129th National Candlelight Cultural Festival.' Following this, five opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, will hold a 'National People's Assembly to Urge the Impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol' at the same location starting at 3:30 p.m. At 5 p.m., a large-scale civic march for immediate resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol and social reforms will continue in the Sajik-ro area.
To minimize inconvenience to citizens due to traffic congestion, police plan to deploy 270 traffic officers around the rally and march areas and manage traffic flow. A police official noted, 'Please use public transportation like subways whenever possible, and if you must use a vehicle, check traffic information in advance.'
The Seoul city government has prepared traffic and safety management measures in response to the large-scale impeachment rallies. City buses will operate on temporary detours depending on police traffic control conditions. Certain bus routes through areas including Gwanghwamun Intersection, Sejong-daero Intersection, Anguk Station, Sungnyemun, and Yeouido will either not stop or take temporary detours.
Subway services will add temporary trains and also increase the number of operational trains to alleviate congestion, if necessary. The 5th line will operate two additional services in both directions, while the 9th line will arrange emergency standby trains. In the event of congestion, measures such as non-stop passage and entrance closures may be implemented.
Safety management within the station will also be strengthened. Approximately 127 safety personnel will be deployed, four times the usual number, to assist with platform and ticket gate order guidance and entrance usage guidance. As large crowds are expected at Gwanghwamun Station, Yeouido Station, and Anguk Station, measures will be taken to prevent various safety incidents, including crowd accidents.
Mobile toilets will be installed, one each in Gwanghwamun, Yeouido, and Anguk. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency will operate a special situation room for rapid response to crowding incidents and will run a rapid response team in anticipation of a surge in rally participants and disaster-related reports.