As the main event of the "Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026" is held on the 5th around the Hangang River in Yeouido, Seoul, police will completely restrict vehicle access in the Yeouido area and deploy a large police force in anticipation of a crowd of about 1 million people.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said it will completely restrict vehicle traffic on Yeouidong-ro from the southern end of Mapo Bridge to the 63 Building from 3 p.m. to midnight that day. Wonhyo Bridge will also be closed to vehicle traffic in both directions from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on the 6th to install and dismantle fireworks equipment.
At Yeouinaru Station, where crowds are expected to concentrate, trains will pass through without stopping from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. After the event ends, anticipating that spectators will leave all at once, authorities plan to restrict one lower lane each on Mapo Bridge and Hangang Bridge to secure additional pedestrian space.
Police will also crack down on drivers stopping vehicles on expressways and Hangang bridges to watch the fireworks. Patrol cars and police motorcycles will be deployed on Olympic-daero, Gangbyeonbuk-ro, and Yanghwa, Seogang, Mapo, Hangang, and Dongjak bridges, and illegally parked or standing vehicles will be towed as part of traffic control. The Hangang Police Unit will deploy five patrol boats to control vessel entry between Mapo Bridge and Hangang Bridge.
On-site safety command will also be strengthened. The deputy commissioner for public safety at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will oversee venue safety management, and police forces will be concentrated at major entrances and subway stations.
Authorities will also prepare for counterterrorism. The police special operations unit will conduct a pre-event sweep of the venue and install vehicle barriers at key points to guard against vehicle-borne attacks. If a bomb threat is reported, a joint analysis response team from counterterrorism, criminal, and 112 units will assess the risk and, together with the organizer, carry out spectator evacuation and on-site control.
They will also prepare for crimes with abnormal motives, such as offenses involving bladed weapons. Police will deploy 12 detective teams and detective mobile unit vehicles in crowd-dense areas and CCTV blind spots.
Scalping and the collection of seat fees will also be targeted for enforcement. The metropolitan preventive patrol unit and public order personnel will be deployed on-site, and a dedicated investigation team will operate to block fraudulent ticket reservations made using macros. Patrols will be strengthened from the stage of transporting fireworks through the end of the event, and on the day of the event, a "fireworks safety situation room" will be operated.
At the eve festival held the previous day, an estimated 100,000 people gathered around Yeouido and Ichon Hangang Parks according to the organizer's count, and it ended without any notable safety accidents. Police plan to strengthen on-site safety management for the main event, expecting a much larger crowd than at the eve festival.
A police official said, "In addition to crowd control, all police functions, including traffic, crime prevention, and 112, will respond organically so that citizens can enjoy the festival with peace of mind."