Seoul is expected to face near gridlock across the city center on May 1, Workers’ Day, as large rallies and marches are planned around Sejong-daero and Yeoui-daero, with traffic controls on major arteries.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions will each hold rallies and marches drawing tens of thousands of participants in central Seoul and the Yeongdeungpo area. With events running at the same time and overlapping in some hours, widespread congestion could hit key business districts.
In central Seoul, preliminary gatherings are set to begin at 1 p.m. around Jongno, Eulji-ro and Yulgok-ro. A main rally is scheduled for 3 p.m. on the Sejong Intersection-to-City Hall Intersection stretch. Marchers are then expected to move from 4 p.m. along Jongno and Namdaemun-ro, passing the Bank of Korea Intersection and Sogong-ro before continuing around City Hall. Police expect sequential lane closures or partial occupation of lanes on Sejong-daero and in the Jongno area, slowing traffic significantly.
In Yeongdeungpo, a large rally is planned from 2 p.m. around Yeoui-daero. The area is typically busy, and police said congestion could spread to nearby roads if crowds concentrate. With some overlap with the downtown events, simultaneous bottlenecks could develop along major routes linking central and western Seoul.
Police warned travel times could rise sharply where disruptions coincide with commuting hours. Bus routes may be detoured or delayed, and heavy pedestrian traffic in some areas is expected to further reduce vehicle speeds.
To limit disruption, police plan to deploy about 200 traffic officers around rally sites and use reversible lanes and phased vehicle controls. They also plan to station personnel at key intersections and detour points to help disperse traffic.
Residents can check detailed information on rally times and controlled sections through police traffic updates, the traffic information center website and mobile channels. Police said additional controls may be imposed depending on conditions, making real-time updates important.
With large crowds expected, significant congestion is likely. Police urged drivers passing through core corridors such as Sejong-daero, Jongno and Yeoui-daero to plan ahead, as travel times may vary widely depending on detours.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.