BTS Concert in Gwanghwamun: How Seoul Police Will Manage 260,000 Fans with Stadium-Style Crowd Control

Translation result.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police announced they will introduce a stadium-style crowd-management system and enforce large-scale traffic controls ahead of the BTS concert at Gwanghwamun Square on the 21st.

On the 15th, police said they expect up to 260,000 attendees and will deploy roughly 6,500 officers across all units — including about 70 mobile squads and traffic, public-order and criminal special-operation units. They will also mobilize approximately 5,400 pieces of equipment, such as high-altitude observation vehicles, broadcast lighting trucks and folding fences, to establish a comprehensive safety-management system.

Police will gradually close major roads around Gwanghwamun before and after the event. Sejong-daero will be closed for the longest period, from 9 PM on the 20th at the Gwanghwamun Intersection until 6 AM on the 22nd at the City Hall Intersection. Sajik-ro and Yulgok-ro, between Jeokseon Intersection and Dongsipja Intersection, will be closed from 4 PM to 11 PM on the 21st. Saemunan-ro and Jongno, between the Four Seasons Hotel and Seorin Intersection, will be closed from 7 PM to 11 PM on the 21st.

To prepare for emergencies, police have designated certain lanes within the restricted areas as emergency-only lanes for response vehicles. On Sajik-ro and Yulgok-ro, one inner lane east-to-west and two inner lanes west-to-east will be reserved; on Sejong-daero, two inner northbound lanes will be reserved; and on Jongno and Saemunan-ro, the center bus-only lanes in both directions will serve as emergency lanes.

If crowding becomes severe, police may significantly expand the restricted area. Additional closures could include Sajik Park Intersection, Dongnimmun Intersection, Seodaemun Intersection, the National Police Agency Intersection, Sungnyemun Intersection, Hoehyeon Intersection, Euljiro 2-ga Intersection, Jongno 2-ga Intersection and Anguk Station Intersection.

To avoid a mass, simultaneous exodus after the show, police will coordinate with the organizer to encourage staggered departures. They will direct fans to disperse to nearby east–west subway stations and may request that trains pass through without stopping at Euljiro 1-ga, Jonggak and Anguk stations if crowds concentrate there.

Anticipating that attendees might head to nearby hotspots such as Itaewon, Hongdae and Seongsu-dong after the 9 PM show, police will pre-deploy officers in those areas to respond to any incidents.

The centerpiece of the stadium-style crowd-control plan is limiting venue entry to 31 gates. On the 13th, police met with security chiefs from six large buildings near the venue and with officials from the Seoul city government and Jongno and Jung districts to coordinate building access, rooftop closures and joint access-control measures for the day.

To monitor crowd density in real time, police will deploy CCTV and on-site monitoring teams at key points around the venue. If crowding reaches two people or more per square meter (about two people per 10.76 sq ft), gates will be closed immediately to stop additional inflows.

Measures are also in place to guard against security threats, including terrorism. Police will install spiked plates, signboard vehicles, barricades and police buses on roads around the venue to block vehicle-ramming attempts. In light of potential international tensions, including those in the Middle East, walk-through metal detectors (MDs) will be installed at the gates.

MD screening will begin at 7 AM on the event day. For people already inside the gates before that time, police will ask them to cooperate with handheld-scanner checks for dangerous items.

Police warned that MD checks may take substantial time given the size of the crowd and urged attendees to travel light. The organizer, HYBE, will also provide advance notices to ticket-holders.

If a bomb threat is reported, authorities will respond in stages based on the level of risk. If they determine the threat could endanger attendees, they will guide orderly movement along evacuation routes prepared by the organizer and conduct safety inspections of the suspected locations.

To guard against knife attacks or other violent crimes driven by unusual motives, detective squads will be stationed around the venue and ready to respond.

A Seoul Metropolitan Police official said the Gwanghwamun area will draw a large crowd, so police are prioritizing public safety and implementing phased safety measures from pre-event preparations through post-event dispersal. He urged the public to follow directions from police and event safety staff.