▲ Fireworks go off during the Seoul International Fireworks Festival in Yeouido, Seoul, on Sept. 5, 2026. (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- The number of 112 emergency reports rose 52 percent from last year on Sept. 5, when the Seoul International Fireworks Festival was held along the Han River, police said Friday.

 

The Yeongdeungpo Police Station said 425 festival-related reports were received on the day, up 52 percent from the previous year.

 

A police official attributed the increase to a larger crowd and longer stays due to favorable weather on the day of the event.

 

The Yeongdeungpo Police Station deployed metropolitan preventive patrol and public safety mobile units and increased staffing at the 112 emergency operations center and Yeouido police substation.

 

As police vehicles had difficulty accessing the festival grounds, 20 members of a dedicated 112 response team were assigned to respond on foot.

 

Police also directed pedestrian traffic in one direction to prevent overcrowding and worked with Seoul Metro to have subway trains pass through stations without stopping as part of safety measures.

 

During the event, police arrested suspects in three sex crime cases and one theft case, while also cracking down on four other offenses, including charging people for spots they had occupied in advance and then sold for money.

 

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Seoul Metropolitan Government are reportedly planning to award commendations to police officers who contributed to safety management.

 

"We were able to bring the event to a close without any major incidents after carefully responding to minimize risk factors," a police official said. "The civic-mindedness of citizens who followed the controls despite the inconvenience stood out. We will work to ensure the festival remains safe next year as well."

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]