Picture Credit score: Dispatch / CC by 3.0Greater than 300,000 followers of Ok-pop group BTS are anticipated to reach in Seoul this weekend.
They’re gathering at Han River Park in Yeouido to have a good time the tenth anniversary of BTS. After the group crush occasion final yr, Seoul metropolis authorities are on alert to implement security measures. “The BTS Festa @ Yeouido” is predicted to draw throngs of individuals as the principle occasion of a two-week competition.
“There are issues about doable crowd accidents because the occasions would finish late at night time and numerous individuals are anticipated to maneuver on bridges and roads collectively in a brief time period,” Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated in an announcement to authorities about administration measures. Authorities on alert embrace the Ministry of the Inside and Security, the Ministry of Tradition, Sports activities, and Tourism, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Help and the Nationwide Police Company.
Metropolis officers will deploy round 630 officers and metropolis staff to maintain crowd management measures in place. There was intense scrutiny round crowd management measures in South Korea following the Halloween tragedy final yr.
Police will shut the street from the southern finish of Mapo Bridge to 63 constructing from 2pm onward. Different raods close to the Han River Park can even be closed, relying on native visitors. The competition continues varied occasions for guests together with the BTS Historical past Wall, an exhibition of the varied costumes worn by the group, and a sculpture created to commemorate the anniversary.
Group chief RM will meet in individual with followers on the ‘ARMY Lounge’ at 5 pm, with a large-scale fireworks show taking place round 8:30 pm. Officers might be available to manage the circulation of visitors as the huge throng departs the Park after the present concludes.
An investigation into the Halloween crowd crush occasion in Seoul in 2022 discovered that police and different authorities businesses didn’t take acceptable precautionary measures. Almost 160 individuals died in that occasion in one of many worst peacetime disasters within the historical past of the nation.