Massive Pokémon Go Crowd in Seongsu-dong Leads to Event Cancellation
A Pokémon Go event in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong district was canceled after overwhelming crowds created significant safety concerns. Local reports indicate that approximately 160,000 people descended on the area, far exceeding the capacity of the venue and surrounding infrastructure.
The scale of the gathering caused severe congestion, with some reports citing 40,000 people flooding Seongsu-dong. The surge in visitors was so intense that authorities issued warnings for residents to avoid entering Gwanaksan Mountain, as the regional influx of people strained public spaces. The situation was marked by long lines of attendees, including crowds holding umbrellas in front of the Seoul Forest event site.
The unexpected turnout highlighted the immense popularity of the franchise, but it also triggered a secondary market of opportunistic resellers. Some individuals reportedly listed “Magikarp cards” for as much as 300,000 won, with crowds filling the event space as scalping became prevalent.
The abrupt cancellation follows a contrast in crowd management; officials noted that while previous high-profile events, such as BTS performances, were managed successfully, the organic and rapid gathering for the Pokémon Go event in Seongsu-dong proved unmanageable.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges organizers face when coordinating large-scale augmented reality events that draw massive, unpredictable crowds into urban centers.
