Seoul to curb downtown marathons after road closures disrupt 190 bus routes
Seoul plans to tighten oversight of downtown marathons through a joint consultative body with police and other government agencies, responding to mounting complaints about road closures, traffic congestion, noise and litter. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it will work with city police authorities to review race schedules, routes, traffic diversions and safety management plans…
Seoul is set to tighten control over downtown marathons following complaints about road closures, traffic congestion, noise, and litter. The city plans to establish a joint consultative body with police and various government agencies to review marathon schedules, routes, traffic diversions, and safety management plans for 2027.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced this on Wednesday, with detailed arrangements expected to be disclosed in December. Event organizers preparing for next year's races have been instructed to postpone recruiting participants until safety plans and traffic restrictions are finalized.
The city's tourism and sports bureau director general, Cho Sung-ho, acknowledged the positive impact marathons have on residents' health but highlighted the increasing concern over the disruptions they cause. Cho urged event organizers to collaborate with the government to address these issues. A recent example of the disruption occurred on Sunday, when marathons led to extensive road closures from Gwanghwamun to Olympic Park.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
