BTS Gwanghwamun Performance, Cannot Be Seen from the Rooftop… Closure Planned

The stairs of Seoul Sejong Munhwa Hoegwan are decorated with promotions related to the group Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS) returning with their fifth full-length album. Yonhap News

Ahead of Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS)’s comeback concert to be held on the 21st at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, the police will even control access to buildings around the venue. With a large crowd expected, the aim is to prevent safety accidents that could occur from circumventing entry through building interiors or unauthorized access to rooftops.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said on the 15th that it held a meeting on the 13th with security managers of six buildings near the venue and local government officials to discuss detailed control measures of this kind.

The most notable measure is the closure of major nearby buildings. The KT Gwanghwamun Building WEST, located directly in front of the venue, will be fully closed to the public on the day of the concert and its parking lot will also be shut. The Kyobo Saengmyeong Building will also close its main entrance and parking lot, and from 4 p.m. it will completely restrict access through the rear entrance.

This is a measure to prevent falls and property damage that could occur as spectators seeking so-called "best spots" crowd onto building rooftops or windowsills. A police official said, "We will focus on cracking down on sneaky viewing through building interiors or attempts at unauthorized intrusion."

The police estimate that up to 260,000 people will gather in the Gwanghwamun area, and will introduce a "stadium-style crowd management" method that treats the plaza area like a giant stadium. They plan to install a total of 31 gates from Gyeongbokgung Gwanghwamun to Seoul Plaza and the Taepyeong Intersection area, and will immediately restrict entry if density exceeds 2 people per square meter.

The personnel and equipment deployed for safety management are also on an unprecedented scale. More than 70 riot police units, along with traffic and special forces units, will deploy some 6,500 personnel to the site. About 5,400 pieces of equipment, including high-altitude observation vehicles and folding fences, will also be mobilized for multi-dimensional surveillance.

Urban traffic controls will continue before and after the concert. The key section Sejong-daero (Gwanghwamun~City Hall Intersection) will be closed to vehicle traffic from 9:00 p.m. on the 20th until 6:00 a.m. on the 22nd. On the afternoon of the 21st, the day of the event, major arterial roads such as Sajik-ro, Yulgok-ro, and Jongno are expected to be gradually shut down.

After the concert ends, non-stop passing through nearby subway stations such as Euljiroipgu Station, Jonggak Station, and Anguk Station is being considered to disperse the crowd. Additionally, personnel will be pre-deployed in areas expected to draw concertgoers for after-parties, such as Itaewon, Hongdae, and Seongsu, to prevent accidents.

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official said, "Since large crowds will concentrate in the Gwanghwamun area, we are pursuing step-by-step measures with citizen safety as the top priority," and added, "Please actively cooperate with on-site control for safe viewing."

Reporter Ahn Byeong-gil [email protected]