The Seoul metropolitan government said on the 23rd that it has drawn up a comprehensive plan ahead of the "Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2025 with Hanwha," to be held at Yeouido Hangang Park on the 27th.
The Seoul International Fireworks Festival draws more than 1 million spectators every year. Accordingly, the city of Seoul plans to implement measures that put citizens' safety first.
First, a "Comprehensive Safety Headquarters" will be set up and operated at the venue. The headquarters will be run in cooperation with related agencies, including Hanwha Group, the event organizer; the Fire and Disaster Headquarters; four autonomous districts—Yeongdeungpo, Yongsan, Dongjak, and Mapo; and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
Hanwha Group will monitor crowd density in real time by installing CCTVs by zone. To root out illegal street vending such as peddlers that cause problems every year, the city will conduct crackdowns starting a week in advance with the autonomous districts and police. The use of gas that threatens safety will be strictly blocked.
During joint inspections with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, all relevant agencies will review crowd-control measures and the status of facility safety management. Afterward, any shortcomings will be checked to ensure they are remedied by the day of the event.
Traffic controls will be implemented in anticipation of large crowds. On the 27th, the day of the event, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., "Yeoui-dong-ro (southern end of Mapo Bridge to in front of 63 Building)" will be fully closed, and all vehicles, including buses, must detour. To prepare for an increase in subway users, Lines 5 and 9 will each run 18 and 62 additional services, respectively.
The station closest to the venue, "Yeouinaru Station on Line 5," may skip stops or have its entrances closed if it becomes crowded. If access to Yeouinaru Station is restricted, nearby Yeouido Station (Lines 5 and 9), Mapo Station (Line 5), and Saetgang Station (Line 9 and the Sinlim Line) should be used.
In line with the road closure on Yeoui-dong-ro, all 19 routes that usually pass through "Yeoui-dong-ro" will be detoured. This includes 14 city bus routes, two village bus routes, one airport bus route, and two Gyeonggi bus routes.
After the event, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., bus dispatching will be concentrated on 26 routes that pass Yeouido Transfer Center, Yeouido Station, and Yeouinaru Station.
To manage crowds on Hangang Bridge, 15 bus routes will skip stops from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the day of the event. Taxis will also not be allowed to pick up or drop off passengers on Hangang Bridge. The city of Seoul also asked the taxi industry to cooperate so that taxis do not pick up or drop off passengers on bridges with festival views, such as Mapo Bridge, as well as Hangang Bridge.
In the Yeouido, Mapo, Yongsan, and Dongjak areas, rentals and returns of the public bicycle Ttareungyi and privately rented personal mobility devices and e-bikes (seven rental companies) will be temporarily suspended. The suspension will run from 7 p.m. on the 26th to 9 a.m. on the 28th. The Ttareungyi rental station at the Hangang Bus Yeouido Pier, located within Yeouido Hangang Park, has been temporarily closed from that day for installation of event facilities.
On the day of the event, bicycle access to the Yeouido and Ichon Hangang Parks will also be restricted.
Information on public transportation use, detours, and control sections related to the event can be checked on the TOPIS (Seoul Transport Operation and Information Service) website and on X (formerly Twitter).
Kim Tae-hee, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Culture Headquarters, said, "We will focus all administrative capacity to ensure the fireworks festival can be concluded safely."