166 personnel to be deployed over two days, from Friday's eve-of-festival event through the main show Saturday; seven key management zones designated with crackdowns on illegal parking and street vendors, and ambulances on standby
Mapo-gu will activate a comprehensive safety management plan ahead of the Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026, set for Saturday, to ensure spectator safety.
While the festival takes place at Yeouido Han River Park, the district is preparing for large crowds expected to spill into Mapo-gu as visitors seek vantage points away from the main venue.
Safety operations will run from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday during the eve-of-festival event, and from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday for the main show.
The district finalized its safety plan on Aug. 25 after consulting with police, fire department officials and other relevant agencies. A joint on-site inspection by related departments was carried out Aug. 28 to closely examine facilities and pedestrian routes in the key management zones.
The seven designated management zones are Mapo Station, Mapo Saevit Culture Forest, Bamseom Park, Hyeonseok Village Square, Mapo Children's Park and Henkel Tower.
A total of 166 district office staff and safety personnel will be deployed at the sites during the festival. Forty-nine will be assigned for the eve-of-festival event and 117 for the main day, managing crowd flow and maintaining order across each zone.
The Mapo-gu Disaster and Safety Operations Center and the integrated CCTV control center will also monitor on-the-ground conditions in real time using CCTV feeds.
The district will maintain emergency communication channels with police, fire and other agencies to respond immediately to any unexpected situations. Safety personnel will also be ready to move quickly to any area outside the designated zones where crowds suddenly gather.
To keep pedestrian routes clear, the district will crack down on illegal parking and street vendors in advance and arrange for garbage collection.
Preparations for medical emergencies are also in place. The Mapo-gu Public Health Center will station ambulances and paramedics at Mapo Saevit Culture Forest and the Mapo Retention Basin public parking lot, ready to respond swiftly in urgent situations.
"Safety is the top priority for a large-scale event like the Seoul International Fireworks Festival, which draws so many residents and tourists," Mapo-gu District Mayor Yoo Dong-kyun said. "We will do our utmost to ensure thorough on-site management and close cooperation with relevant agencies so that everyone can enjoy the festival with peace of mind."
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