Seoul City Announces Safety Measures for BTS Gwanghwamun Concert... Non-stop Subway Service and Overcharging Crackdown

Ahead of BTS's comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21, Seoul City has begun to prepare comprehensive measures for large crowd management and the protection of foreign tourists.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon chaired a meeting on March 4 at Seoul City Hall to discuss comprehensive response plans for ensuring citizen safety and welcoming global fans related to the BTS comeback event. BTS is scheduled to hold a comeback live performance to celebrate the release of their fifth studio album at Gwanghwamun Square at 8 PM on the 21st of next month.

Seoul City expects tens of thousands of people to gather on the day of the concert and will establish a multi-layered safety management system. The event area will be subdivided to eliminate blind spots, and the event organizers will be requested to provide sufficient safety support personnel to be deployed at the concert venue and surrounding areas.

Real-time urban data and CCTV will be utilized to enhance crowd density monitoring, centered around the Seoul City Disaster Safety Situation Room. Management of bottleneck areas before and after the concert will be conducted to encourage sequential entry and exit, and measures to prevent crowd concentration during the performance will be checked. Fire and emergency personnel and vehicles will be deployed in preparation for emergencies, and emergency routes will also be secured.

As part of traffic measures, non-stop subway service will be implemented at subway stations near the event venue, and buses will be rerouted due to road closures. Additional measures include securing nearby restrooms, halting the rental of bike-sharing and personal mobility devices (PM) for pedestrian safety, and cracking down on illegal street vendors and illegal parking. Multilingual safety messages will be broadcast on the stage screen and electronic display boards at Seoul Plaza to ensure the safety of foreign visitors.

Additionally, measures to eradicate overcharging for foreign tourists will be strengthened. In collaboration with local districts, inspections will focus on compliance with lodging price postings and inducing reservation cancellations, targeting unfair practices. On-site inspections using "mystery shoppers" will be conducted in traditional markets and tourist-heavy areas.

Before and after the BTS concert, street performances, random dance festivals, and participatory events will be held at major locations in Seoul such as Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Seoul Plaza, and Hangang Park for global ARMY (fan club name) to enjoy. Cultural events in collaboration with adjacent commercial areas, including traditional markets, and special events utilizing the Han River bus are also in preparation.

Seoul City will operate an internal task force (TF) chaired by the First Deputy Mayor to check the situation weekly in preparation for the BTS comeback concert. Cooperation with HYBE regarding concert-related tasks will continue, and safety management plans will be reviewed with the participation of experts, receiving advice from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Concert Safety Support Center.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated, "This BTS full group return event is something that Seoul City really needs to utilize well, and it has the value to be elevated into a national festival. Please pay special attention to safety issues, traffic flow issues, and the resolution of citizens' inconveniences to ensure it becomes a joyful festival for the people."