As Christmas draws near, Seoul is gearing up for one of its busiest holiday seasons. If you’re planning to head out, brace yourself -- last year’s data shows the Gwanghwamun area was especially packed on Christmas Eve.
According to Seoul City, this year looks no different.
Last year on Dec. 24 at 7 p.m., Gwanghwamun and Jonggak -- part of the Jongno 1-4-ga-dong district -- saw 86,682 people in the streets, making it the busiest spot in the city.
These numbers come from Seoul City’s big data platform, which partners with South Korean telecom provider KT to track hourly population movements.
Gwanghwamun is expected to be a top destination again this year, thanks to the Santa Village-themed Christmas market and Seoul Light Gwanghwamun, a media art show.
To keep things safe, the city is rolling out a range of measures, including a monitoring center at Gwanghwamun Square and surveillance cameras to watch for overcrowding.
In an effort to manage foot traffic, the Seoul Lantern Festival, which has traditionally taken place in Gwanghwamun, has been relocated to Cheonggye Plaza this year.
“We’re doing everything we can to make sure everyone can enjoy the season safely,” Seoul City said in a statement.
Not far behind Gwanghwamun is Myeong-dong, a longtime favorite for holiday shopping and festivities, which drew 83,487 visitors last Christmas Eve.
However, the size of the area could also be a factor. While the Gwanghwamun area spans 2.35 square kilometers, Myeong-dong is just 0.99 square kilometers.
Other popular areas last year, included Yeouido, home to upscale malls like The Hyundai Seoul and IFC Mall, which had 76,002 visitors. Jamsil 3-dong, the site of Lotte World Adventure and Seokchon Lake, attracted 72,784 visitors.
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