Seoul braces for traffic disruptions this weekend as fall marathons, rallies converge

Major rallies and fall marathon events are set to take place across central Seoul this weekend, with significant traffic congestion expected. Key roads including Sejong-daero and Seogang Bridge will be closed during certain hours, and some city bus routes will be rerouted.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) will hold a preliminary rally Saturday afternoon starting at 1 p.m. near the Seoul Employment and Labor Office in Jung-gu.

Participants will march along Euljiro and Jahamun-ro to Daehanmun Gate at Deoksugung Palace, then hold the main rally for one hour along the stretch between Sungnyemun Intersection and Taepyeong Intersection. From 4 p.m., the march will continue along Sejong-daero and Sajik-ro to Singyo Intersection before returning to the labor office via Jongno and Namdaemun-ro.

Yeouido will also see both a marathon and a rally on the same day, in the morning and afternoon respectively.

Starting at 8 a.m., the "Save Race Marathon," sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be held. Participants will depart from Yeouido Park, cross Seogang Bridge and loop back from Gwangheungchang Station intersection. About 7,000 runners are expected.

As a result, vehicle traffic on Seogang Bridge — from the northern to the southern end — will be restricted from 7:50 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

From 2 p.m., the Federation of Korean Trade Unions will hold a rally along Yeoui-daero.

On Sunday, the Seoul Metropolitan Government-sponsored "Liberal Democracy Marathon" will be held in the Gwanghwamun area. Runners will depart from Seoul Plaza at 7:30 a.m. and follow a course through Heunginjimun and Euljiro before returning.

Police said vehicle traffic along the stretch between Sejong-daero Intersection and Heunginjimun Intersection will be completely blocked for about an hour and a half, from 7 a.m. to 8:35 a.m.

A total of 186 traffic officers will be deployed to manage weekend congestion. Police said they plan to keep public transportation — including metropolitan buses serving the Greater Seoul area — running and will operate reversible lanes in each area to minimize disruption.

"Significant traffic congestion is expected in the downtown and Yeouido areas," a police official said, urging the public to use the subway where possible and to check traffic conditions before driving.

For real-time traffic updates on the day of the events, the public can contact the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's traffic information hotline at 02-700-5000 or visit the Traffic Information Center website at www.spatic.go.kr.