FORMAX
Warning on crowd density in downtown Seoul is based on real-time traffic information.
December 31, 2024
Ranked 6th in the 2024 Global Power City Index*, Seoul is a city that more tourists visit as the years go by, where you can experience various cultures besides K-POP and food. During the year-end and New Year’s holidays, in particular, main streets of Seoul are attract many people with lots of events and decorations, so the city runs a system that can manage the crowds in real-time basis and respond quickly to safety accidents.
The crowd density is measured in real time in major tourist areas such as Myeongdong, Itaewon, Seongsu-dong, Konkuk University Station, Hongdae, Gangnam Station and Apgujeong. CCTVs are installed in narrow alleys as well as main roads and streets to detect crowds, measuring the number of people per unit area, and automatically detect risk. When the risk level increases, a text message is sent from the base stations to all individuals within the area to inform them of a possible danger and safety guards are immediately deployed to prevent accidents that may occur due to crowd.
The city of Seoul has also installed kiosks in the above areas to provide information to people on site. The multi-crowd map is easy to understand as it uses color-coded road guidance to indicate traffic conditions - green for smooth flow and red for congestion.
Crowd and road conditions are inevitably closely related to the crowd congestion ratio. So if you would like to have nice memories and experiences while visiting Seoul during Christmas holiday season, public transportation such as subway or bus instead of car or taxi could be good option.
* Global Power City Index: Since 2008, the Urban Strategy Research Institute of the Mori Memorial Foundation in Japan has been publishing a ranking of comprehensive city power through research on future visions, urban strategies and urban policies for each city around the world.
The crowd density is measured in real time in major tourist areas such as Myeongdong, Itaewon, Seongsu-dong, Konkuk University Station, Hongdae, Gangnam Station and Apgujeong. CCTVs are installed in narrow alleys as well as main roads and streets to detect crowds, measuring the number of people per unit area, and automatically detect risk. When the risk level increases, a text message is sent from the base stations to all individuals within the area to inform them of a possible danger and safety guards are immediately deployed to prevent accidents that may occur due to crowd.
The city of Seoul has also installed kiosks in the above areas to provide information to people on site. The multi-crowd map is easy to understand as it uses color-coded road guidance to indicate traffic conditions - green for smooth flow and red for congestion.
Crowd and road conditions are inevitably closely related to the crowd congestion ratio. So if you would like to have nice memories and experiences while visiting Seoul during Christmas holiday season, public transportation such as subway or bus instead of car or taxi could be good option.
* Global Power City Index: Since 2008, the Urban Strategy Research Institute of the Mori Memorial Foundation in Japan has been publishing a ranking of comprehensive city power through research on future visions, urban strategies and urban policies for each city around the world.
