Labor Day Rally Expected to Cause Traffic Congestion in Seoul
Today, on Labor Day, large-scale rallies and marches with tens of thousands of participants are scheduled across various locations in downtown Seoul, leading to serious traffic congestion.
On May 1, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency officially announced that traffic would be controlled on roads around Sejong-daero, Eulji-ro, and Jongno.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) will hold a "Workers' Assembly" rally from 2 PM at the Dong-simja Crossroad to Jeoksun Crossroad. Approximately 30,000 participants have been reported for this event.
On the same day, from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM, a rally organized by the Korean Federation of Trade Unions (KFTU) will take place along the stretch from Taepeung Crossroad to Sungnyemun Crossroad. The KFTU plans to march from City Hall Crossroad to Gwanghwamun Crossroad and from Han-eun Crossroad to Euljiro 2-ga afterward, expecting about 20,000 participants.
Additionally, various labor-related groups have scheduled their rallies and marches in the area around Namdaemun Road and Eulji-ro starting at 11:30 AM, making traffic congestion in that area inevitable.
The Liberty Unification Party is also expected to hold a rally and march in front of the Donghwa Duty-Free Shop and the Euljiro 1-ga Crossroad, with reported attendance reaching 30,000.
In response, the police plan to maintain traffic flow in both north-south and east-west directions during the rallies and marches as much as possible. About 220 traffic officers will be deployed on-site to direct vehicle detours.
A spokesperson from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated, "Significant traffic congestion is expected around Sejong-daero and Eulji-ro in the downtown area," urging citizens to use public transportation whenever possible, and if they must drive, to check traffic information in advance.
Meanwhile, Labor Day, celebrated annually on May 1st, is a day that commemorates the rights of workers and the historical significance of labor movements worldwide. In Korea, it is also known as "Workers' Day," and it is common for labor unions and related organizations to hold various rallies and events.
This year, major labor groups seem to have prepared large-scale rallies to convey messages aimed at improving labor conditions and protecting workers' rights.
Citizens visiting downtown Seoul on this day are encouraged to prioritize the use of public transportation, and if driving is unavoidable, to check real-time traffic updates through apps or radio traffic broadcasts.
Image source: Last year's Labor Day rally held by KFTU members at Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul / News1
