The Seoul Hangang Ultramarathon, which had been set to take place on the 16th, was tentatively postponed. More than 1,500 people had completed registration, but the organizer had not gone through formal procedures with the city of Seoul, and a drone light show was scheduled near the race course on the same day, raising concerns about safety accidents.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government did not allow the race to be held, saying the routes of marathon participants and drone show spectators could overlap. The organizer said it would push ahead, calling the decision an infringement on freedom of movement, but the Dongdaemun District Office, which had approved use of the starting area, canceled its approval, ultimately preventing the race from being held.
The issue has sparked debate. Some say large-scale events that do not follow formal procedures should be restricted, while others argue administrative agencies should not excessively block freedom to use public spaces. As safety management for mass gatherings has been strengthened after the deadly crowd crush in the nightlife district of Itaewon, the debate has expanded into where to place the balance between individual freedom and public safety.
◇ heightened safety standards after the deadly crowd crush in the nightlife district of Itaewon
Those who prioritize individual freedom say society has been overreacting to safety issues since the deadly crowd crush in the nightlife district of Itaewon. They say tighter controls and screening at every large gathering are causing greater inconvenience to citizens and dampening the inherent energy and autonomy of events.
BTS's Gwanghwamun comeback concert is often cited as a representative example. Police and others deployed metal detectors and handheld scanners for safety management and checked some spectators' belongings. Tourists and passersby were advised not to stay in one place for long and to keep moving.
Some citizens complained about the inconvenience. There was also criticism that tighter controls in the name of safety management reduced the event's heat and autonomy. There are concerns that the openness and dynamism that are strengths of Hallyu and K-pop events could be lost under excessive safety management.
A similar controversy appeared at spring outings. On Apr. 5 in the afternoon, about 100,000 people flocked to the Seokchon Lake area in Songpa District, Seoul, to see the cherry blossoms. As on-site congestion worsened, Songpa District turned off lights around Seokchon Lake and restricted some sections, citing safety concerns.
Among citizens who came to see the cherry blossoms, some said, "We understand that it was a safety measure, but it was hard to fully enjoy the festival." It showed where the balance should be between safety management and citizen convenience at events expected to draw large crowds.
◇ despite criticism of "overreaction"… preventing major accidents comes first
On the other hand, many say safety must be the top priority at mass gatherings to prevent a major accident like the deadly crowd crush in the nightlife district of Itaewon from happening again. If police and local governments fail to control the potential for crowding in advance and an accident occurs, responsibility will inevitably fall on administrative agencies and society as a whole.
The "Pokémon" event held on the 1st around Seongsu-dong and Seoul Forest was also cut short by the organizer after safety concerns were raised amid large crowds. At the time, about 40,000 people gathered on the Seongsu-dong café street and 120,000 in Seoul Forest, for a total of 160,000. On social media (SNS), posts followed such as "There are too many people in Seongsu-dong" and "I'm worried there could be an accident like the deadly crowd crush in the nightlife district of Itaewon."
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Park Jeong-bo, addressing the overreaction controversy during the BTS Gwanghwamun concert, said, "We must respond excessively when it comes to citizen safety," adding, "We put safety first."
Experts say it is hard to absolutize either individual freedom or public safety. Free activity and challenge should be respected, but large-scale events held in public places must consider not only participants' safety but also the safety of the general public.
A government official said, "We learned after the deadly crowd crush in the nightlife district of Itaewon that safety must be the top priority, but that should not be used to ignore or suppress individual freedom," adding, "Safety and freedom must go together. When safety is ensured, individuals can enjoy events more freely."