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Seoul sends 1st-ever English public safety alert ahead of BTS concert
An English public safety alert issued by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Friday on traffic controls surrounding BTS' comeback concert on Saturday. Captured from X
By Park Ung
The Seoul local government on Friday sent out a public safety alert in English for the first time as part of safety measures ahead of BTS' comeback concert this Saturday, which is expected to draw up to 260,000 people.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government sent an English-language alert on traffic controls ahead of BTS' show at Gwanghwamun Square which read: "Mar 20 9PM~22 6AM Sejongdaero closed; Mar 21 4~11PM Sajikro, 7~11PM Saemunanro closed [SEOUL]," accompanied by a Korean version of the message.
“If foreign attendees only receive alerts in Korean, that could pose a real safety risk in an emergency,” an official from Seoul's disaster and safety office told The Korea Times. “We wanted to ensure they receive the same information as locals at the same time.”
The official added that the alert reached all phones in Seoul regardless of roaming status, though those moving outside the coverage area at the time of sending may have missed it. English alerts will continue Saturday, targeted at those in and around the Gwanghwamun area, with prepared scenario-based messages covering crowd dispersal, traffic controls and emergencies.
While the move could set a precedent for sending English alerts at future large-scale events with significant foreign attendance, the official said there are currently no plans to make it standard practice.
Each alert is capped at 90 characters, which can limit the amount of information provided in English as opposed to Korean language alerts given the difference between the English and Korean alphabets. The absence of an on-site translator for simultaneous releases also highlights the need to prepare in advance. Preparation for Saturday's concert, the official noted, was only possible since it was a preplanned event.
Expats in Seoul welcomed the first English-language alert, though some noted room for improvement.
“I like the option of having the alerts in English. In case I actually need to know the information quickly, it would be quite helpful to have the ability to read it or at least translate it without screenshots and Papago [translation app],” said Ariel Schudson, 47, a California native who has lived in Korea for nearly six years.
A foreign national who requested anonymity said foreign visitors may find it hard to tell which roads are not accessible immediately, adding that the translated version's use of the term "daero" (meaning main road in Korean) could confuse those unfamiliar with Korean street terminology.
“But my initial reaction was that it was nice to have an English translated version of the alert, specifially ahead of the BTS comeback concert since a lot of foreign visitors are expected to converge in the area,” she added.