PM calls for safety measures over World Cup street cheering

Prime Minister Han Ducksoo instructed authorities Wednesday to ensure safety measures as sports fans are expected to hold large-scale street cheering events for World Cup games.

The instruction came as the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to allow street cheering events for the national soccer team’s World Cup games this week and next week, although the nation is reeling from a deadly crowd crush late last month.

Han called for authorities to “be thoroughly prepared not to cause a single accident,” with street cheering scheduled to be held Thursday for South Korea’s opening match against Uruguay.

600 police personnel

to be deployed

About 600 police personnel will be deployed for crowd control in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul where thousands of sports fans are expected to gather for street cheering during the World Cup in Qatar, officials said Wednesday.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has permitted the Red Devils, the official supporters’ group for the national soccer team, to use the square for street cheering during the World Cup, about a month after a deadly crowd crush in Seoul’s Itaewon neighborhood killed at least 158 people.

“A total of 41 police officers, along with eight police squads (comprising about 560 personnel), will be deployed in Gwanghwamun Square on Thursday to prevent overcrowding,” an official at the National Police Agency said.

Thousands of sports fans are expected to join the street cheering on Thursday when the national team is scheduled to face Uruguay. Up to 10,000 fans are forecast to gather for the two following matches next week.