Police deploy 12 detective teams, Han River patrol boats for Seoul fireworks festival

Police are significantly stepping up safety measures for the main event of the Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026, set for Saturday in the Yeouido area of Seoul, where massive crowds are expected. The Korean National Police Agency's deputy chief for public safety will personally command operations on the ground, with police concentrated at key crowd-gathering points including Han River bridges and subway stations.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, about 100,000 people — by the organizers' estimate — gathered Friday at Yeouido and Ichon Hangang Park for the eve-of-festival preview event. Officers were deployed at major entry and exit points and subway stations to manage safety, and the event concluded without incident.

With far larger crowds expected for Saturday's main event than for the preview, police elevated on-site command to the deputy chief for public safety. In addition to crowd management, authorities will pursue sector-specific measures covering anti-terror operations, illegal parking and stopping enforcement, responses to random-motive crimes, and crackdowns on ticket scalping and unlicensed street vendors.

Patrol cars and sidecars will be permanently stationed at major viewing spots along motor-vehicle-only roads — including Olympic-daero, Gangbyeon Bukno and Hangang Bridge — where spectators tend to congregate, to prevent vehicles from stopping or parking. Five Han River Police Unit patrol boats will also be deployed between Mapo Bridge and Hangang Bridge to keep vessels out of the area.

Twelve detective teams and mobile detective unit vehicles will be deployed in densely crowded areas of the venue and in blind spots not covered by closed-circuit television cameras. Police are also preparing for unexpected incidents, including knife attacks.

Crackdowns on ticket scalping and unlicensed street vendors will run in parallel. Police plan to deploy metropolitan prevention patrol units and public-order personnel on site, and will operate a dedicated investigation team to crack down on fraudulent ticket purchases made using automated macro programs.

The police special operations unit will conduct a pre-event sweep of the venue and set up vehicle barriers at key points. Should a bomb threat or similar report come in, a joint analysis and response team — drawing on anti-terror, detective and 112 emergency dispatch units — will assess the threat level and take action, including evacuating festivalgoers and controlling the scene.

"The main event will draw far more people, so we will not let our guard down and will monitor conditions on the ground with great care," a Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official said. "All police functions — traffic, crime prevention and emergency response — will work in coordination to ensure citizens can enjoy the festival with peace of mind."