Prime Minister Han inspects crowd management systems at Seoul fireworks festival

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook visited Yeouido Han River Park in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on Saturday to inspect safety management preparations for the 2026 Seoul World Fireworks Festival, focusing on crowd crush and fire prevention measures.

Han received a briefing from Seoul Metropolitan Government officials on safety management plans and reviewed the city's real-time crowd monitoring system as well as fire and crime prevention measures.

"Please thoroughly manage the movement routes and high-density areas of visitors to prevent crowd accidents caused by mass gatherings," Han said, adding that safety management efforts must be sustained "until the very last moment of the event." She also directed officials to pay close attention to safety at nearby subway stations expected to see heavy foot traffic, not just at the festival grounds.

After completing her on-site inspection, Han posted on X, formerly Twitter, urging the public not to rush and to follow the guidance of safety personnel on the ground. "I hope this will be a safe and enjoyable fireworks festival," she wrote.

Meanwhile, vehicle traffic and subway service in the area around the festival will also be restricted. Police will completely ban vehicle traffic on Yeouidong-ro — the road running from the southern end of Mapo Bridge to the 63 Building — from 3 p.m. Saturday until midnight.

Wonhyo Bridge will be closed to traffic in both directions from 9 a.m. Saturday until 3 a.m. Sunday. Subway Line 5 trains will bypass Yeouinaru Station without stopping for three hours, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.