Seoul: The Seoul city government announced plans to deploy 6,800 personnel to manage crowds and handle emergencies during the 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival, set to take place later this week. The event, hosted by Hanwha Group, is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, with approximately 1 million visitors expected along the Han River.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a safety headquarters will be set up in collaboration with the police, fire departments, Hanwha, and other relevant agencies to oversee crowd and traffic management around the site. Operational command centers, which will also serve as emergency medical stations, will be established at six locations across the Yeouido and Ichon neighborhoods. Additionally, 45 patrol boats will be deployed to ensure safety on the river.
Hanwha will monitor real-time crowd density using CCTV cameras in each zone of the festival venue and will operate an emergency request feature on the official festival application, Orange Play. Traffic controls will be enforced during Saturday's main event, with Wonhyo Bridge closed from 9 a.m. until 3 a.m. Sunday, and Yeouidong-ro from 3 p.m. to midnight. A total of 24 bus routes passing through these restricted sections will be temporarily rerouted.