Large-Scale Rallies and Events Across Seoul This Weekend... Traffic Disruptions Expected

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has announced that large-scale rallies and events will be held across the city center this weekend, expecting significant traffic disruptions in the area, and urged the public to use detours or public transportation.

According to the Seoul Police on the 18th, on Saturday afternoon, the Candlelight Transition Action will hold a "Nationwide Concentrated Government Criticism Rally and March" around Sungnyemun. The police estimate that about 30,000 people will participate in this rally and march. On the same day, the Liberty Unification Party and others plan to hold a counter-protest rally criticizing the government near Donghwa Duty-Free Shop, also with about 30,000 participants. The Shinja Solidarity and others will hold a similar rally around Samgakji Station.

The police plan to operate reversible lanes during the rally times, prohibiting left turns and U-turns at Sejong Rotary and allowing only straight traffic. Additionally, since vehicle congestion is expected during the rally times for vehicles entering the city center, the police urged the use of public transportation and requested drivers to take detours via Tongil-ro, Sajik-ro, and Samil-ro, avoiding Sejong Rotary, Taepyeong Rotary, and Sungnyemun Rotary.

On Sunday the 20th, in the morning, the "Seoul Bicycle Parade" event will take place in the city center, and the "Son Ki-jeong Peace Marathon" is scheduled in Songpa-gu. The Seoul Bicycle Parade starts from Gwanghwamun Square, passes along Gangbyeonbuk-ro, and continues to Sangam World Cup Park. Traffic will be controlled on the Sejong-daero to Hangang-daero (north end of Hangang Bridge) section from 6:00 AM to 8:48 AM, and on the Gangbyeonbuk-ro (Hangang Bridge to Nanji IC) section from 8:05 AM to 9:33 AM.

The Son Ki-jeong Peace Marathon starts from Jamsil Sports Complex, goes to Jamsil Bridge, and returns. Traffic will be controlled on Olympic-ro (Sports Complex to Jamsil Station) and Jamsil Bridge (north end to Jamsil Station) sections from 8:10 AM for two hours. However, reversible lanes will be operated on the opposite lanes of the controlled sections to allow vehicle passage.

To minimize traffic congestion and inconvenience to citizens, the police will install 233 guide signboards and 506 banners around the event areas and deploy about 470 personnel, including traffic police, to manage traffic and guide vehicle detours. Detailed traffic information during rally times can be checked via the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency traffic information hotline, the Traffic Information Center website, and the Seoul Police Traffic Information KakaoTalk channel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.