Street cheering at the Gwanghwamun Square World Cup… Comprehensive conditional approval from Seoul

Estimated crowd of 8,000 to 10,000… More than 600 on-site security personnel deployed
Distributing crowds by placing screens everywhere… Passing through a bus non-stop

After twists and turns, street cheering for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will unfold in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square.

After discussion by the Gwanghwamun Square Advisory Group on the 22nd, the Seoul Metropolitan Government conditionally approved the application to use Gwanghwamun Square submitted by the Red Devils’ cheer squad.

“As a result of the advisory group reviewing safety accidents and citizen safety as a top priority due to the holding of large-scale events, the conditions for compliance with the results of the evaluation of Jongno-gu’s security management plan and the advice of the advisory group, such as ensure safety at night, smooth traffic management, and prompt response to emergency situations,” the city said. We have decided to allow the use of the square as a result.”

The period of use is from the 23rd to the 3rd of December.

Accordingly, the Red Devils plan to cheer on the street at Gwanghwamun Square on the 24th and 28th, and December 2, when the Korean national soccer team’s group league games will be held.

The installation of the big screen will start on the 23rd, the day before the first match.

On the 17th, the Red Devils submitted a request to the Seoul Metropolitan Government to use Gwanghwamun Square for street cheering.

A security management plan was submitted to Jongno-gu, the district office in charge, and was reviewed on the 21st.

According to the supplementary plan, the Red Devils increased the number of security management personnel from 150 to 340.

This is a threefold increase from the 90 during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The main stage, which was supposed to be placed in front of the statue of King Sejong the Great, was also moved to Yukjo Square behind the statue.

In addition, additional large screens were placed throughout the square to spread the crowd over a wider space.

As a result of re-examination with fire fighting officers, the police, and the electrical safety corporation, Jongno-gu decided on a safety management plan under conditions such as securing lanes for incident vehicles, ambulances and fire trucks, supplying electricity back expanding the location of the event, and expanding citizen convenience facilities such as portable toilets

Lee Joong-geun, chairman of the Red Devils, said, “We are seeking cooperation from the police to install additional electric (delivery) vehicles and safe lanes.” There is,” he said.

The number of participants expected from the Red Devils is 8,000 on the 24th and 28th, and 10,000 on December 2nd.

At the time of the World Cup in Russia in June 2018, the police estimated that 55,000 people gathered in Gwanghwamun and Seoul Plaza.

However, as this World Cup is unusually being held in the winter, the Red Devils anticipated that many people would not come out into the streets.

It was also taken into account that the game time was late at 10pm and midnight.

However, given that crowds have gathered at various events such as festivals after social distancing was lifted in April this year, a significant number of people can gather for this street cheering.

The city of Seoul will set up a general situation room on site so that the street cheering event can be held safely, and 276 people from the city, autonomous regions, and related organizations will patrol the event site, respond to emergencies, and manages the event. security of nearby stations.

In addition, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts bus stop closest to Gwanghwamun Square will be temporarily closed until the end of the event, and buses passing through the stop will pass by without stopping.

Gwanghwamun Station on Subway Line 5 also plans to take steps to pass without stopping if necessary, considering the level of congestion on the platform.

At the end of the cheering game, it was decided to increase the number of public transport operations such as subways and buses, and to extend the time of the last train.

In the first and second rounds, subway lines 2, 3, and 5 are operated 12 times in total until 1:00 am the next day, and the number of operations is increased 30 times for the third round which is n ending at 2: 00 am.

All late night buses will also be dispatched intensively between 2 and 3 am

On the day of the cheering event, four stations near the venue of the event, including Gwanghwamun Station, will increase the number of security officers from the current 12 to 52, four times the number.

Intense clashes on illegal parking and stopping are also taking place with the autonomous regions.

On the day of the cheer match, public bicycles and personal mobility devices cannot be returned or rented in the Gwanghwamun area.

Considering that this street cheering is a late-night multi-gathering event held in the city center in a situation where the pain of the Itaewon disaster has not disappeared, there are not a few voices worried about the safety of citizens as well as the controversy about its appropriateness.

The Korea Football Association, which previously promoted street cheering, canceled the street cheering earlier this month, saying, “It is not in accordance with public sentiment to cheer on the street less than a month after a disaster (Itaewon).

Mr. said A (26), who lives in Jongno-gu, “I think it’s okay not to go after him if even a small accident can happen at the point where the people’s trauma has not gone away. “

On the 19th, the social network service (SNS) posted by the Red Devil on the post ‘Promoting Support for Gwanghwamun Square Street’ also responded with “support and support”, “the pain of the disaster has not gone yet”, “the police and firefighters who are already having a hard time, urgent again Critical comments saying, “It takes.

While acknowledging such criticism, the Red Devils are in a position to hope that the people who suffered as a result of the Itaewon tragedy will gain strength by cheering on the street.

The city of Seoul emphasized, “Since it is an event where many citizens gather at night, we plan to cooperate with the police and fire department to prevent accidents in advance and prepare for human casualties.”

If the football team achieves good results, the enthusiasm for cheering on the street is likely to intensify.

The Chairman, Lee, said, “If the national team advances to the round of 16, we intend to continue cheering on the street in Gwanghwamun Square afterwards.”

/happy news