Park Jeong-bo, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, checks the stage for BTS’ upcoming concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Wednesday, as he conducts an on-site inspection of its preparations. Joint Press Corps
Police said Wednesday they will set up a crowd control zone with a capacity of 100,000 people around the stage where K-pop group BTS will perform in central Seoul this weekend.
The zone will be set up so that no more than one person occupies every square meter, as safety is of paramount importance during the concert set to begin at 8 p.m. Saturday at Gwanghwamun Square, an official at the Seoul Metropolitan Police told reporters.
Police expect around 260,000 people to gather in the area stretching from the square to Sungnye Gate, the largest number since the 2002 World Cup, when up to 250,000 people cheered in the streets.
Random checkpoints will be conducted on the day, with 72 teams of riot police and 35 teams of detectives deployed to the area.
Audience members entering the crowd control zone will be required to walk through metal detectors and undergo searches for hazardous materials.
“We decided to create the safest conditions possible given the nature of the event that can be attended by anyone in an open downtown area, and memories of the Itaewon tragedy,” the official said, referring to the 2022 crowd crush that killed 159 people.