On August 15, large-scale commemorative events and rallies are set to take place in downtown Seoul, raising concerns about severe traffic congestion. Citizens planning outings or travel in the city during the holiday are advised to exercise caution.
According to police and the Seoul Traffic Information System (TOPIS), significant gatherings will occur around Sejong-daero and Gwanghwamun on Liberation Day.
Conservative groups plan to hold a rally from 1 p.m. in the Sejong-daero area (from Donghwa Duty-Free Shop to Daehanmun) and will march toward Sin-gyo Intersection starting at 4 p.m., leading to a complete road closure in both directions. Progressive groups will also gather from 1:30 p.m. in the Yulgok-ro and Sajik-ro areas, marching toward Seoul Plaza via Anguk, Jonggak, and Euljiro starting at 2:30 p.m., which will block traffic toward City Hall. Additionally, rallies and marches are scheduled in the outskirts of the city, such as around Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, which is expected to exacerbate traffic congestion throughout downtown.
Specifically, a restricted area will be established between Gwanghwamun Rotary and Sejong-ro Rotary, with some lanes closed to traffic or operating as variable lanes using the opposite side. Major sections of Sejong-daero will see limited vehicle access due to event setups and large gatherings.
Traffic congestion from the various marches is anticipated to be unavoidable.
Police plan to deploy traffic officers and exemplary drivers to manage signals and direct vehicles to detours, but significant impacts on major thoroughfares are expected.
A police official stated, "Given the anticipated severe traffic congestion on major roads in the city center on Liberation Day, we urge citizens to use public transportation, such as subways, instead of personal vehicles whenever possible."
For those who must drive, it is advisable to check real-time road closures and detours in advance through the Seoul Police Traffic Information hotline, the traffic information center's website, or the KakaoTalk 'Seoul Police Traffic Information' channel.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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