BTS Concert in Seoul Triggers Disaster Alert Due to Expected Large Crowds

The South Korean boy band BTS is set to perform with its full lineup at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, drawing an anticipated crowd of 170,000 to 260,000 people. According to RTHK, authorities have issued a Level 2 disaster crisis alert for the Jung-gu and Jongno-gu districts, effective from 7 a.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday, marking the first time the government has issued such an alert for a specific event. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has established a situation room at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History near the stage to monitor and maintain safety and order. To ensure security, the police have deployed 7,000 officers and equipped them with anti-drone systems. Access control measures will be implemented in several buildings around the venue, and three nearby subway stations will be closed. Yonhap News Agency reports that the disaster crisis alert system is divided into four levels: attention, caution, alert, and severe, with Level 2 being the second lowest.