A 256-member safety management support headquarters will operate Sept. 4–5, with 173 safety personnel deployed at key locations and medical, traffic and cleanup measures activated
Yongsan-gu in Seoul has drawn up a safety management support plan ahead of the Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026, set for Friday and Saturday, to prevent crowd-related accidents and minimize inconvenience to residents during the large-scale event.
The district will bolster safety management at pedestrian overpasses and access points around Ichon Hangang Park, where large crowds are expected, independently of the organizer's own safety measures. Authorities also plan to crack down on illegal parking, unauthorized street vending and waste disposal issues that typically arise during the event.
A safety management support headquarters will be established for the duration of the festival, operating four units — a general coordination team, a safety management team, a medical response team and a lifestyle support team — with a total of 256 personnel.
This year, 128 safety personnel will be deployed at key locations — 33 more than last year — including 110 private-sector specialists. They will guide festivalgoers through access routes and congestion-prone areas around Ichon Hangang Park, and handle on-site crowd control and situation reporting in the event of an emergency.
Safety personnel will also be deployed at the eve-of-festival event on Friday, which is being held for the first time this year. About 30 percent of the main-event staffing level will be committed, including 30 private-sector specialists, covering eight key locations.
A medical response system will also be activated. The Yongsan-gu Public Health Center will field a rapid-response unit, with an on-site office, medical booths and ambulances stationed at key points to ensure swift emergency treatment and hospital transport if needed.
On-site management will be stepped up to reduce public inconvenience. Two CCTV enforcement vehicles will conduct special crackdowns on illegal parking and unauthorized road use, while additional personnel will focus on cleaning and waste removal around the festival grounds.
"Safety is the top priority at a large-scale event like the Seoul International Fireworks Festival, which draws large crowds," Yongsan-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-dae said. "We will do our utmost to respond meticulously on the ground — covering crowd-accident prevention as well as traffic, medical and lifestyle support — so that both residents and visitors can enjoy the festival with peace of mind."
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