Seongsu Pokémon Event Ends Early Amidst Overwhelming Crowds

The 'Pokémon' event held in Seoul's Seongsu-dong district on the 1st concluded earlier than scheduled for safety reasons, as more people than anticipated flocked to the venue. Pokémon Korea had organized the 'Pokémon Mega Festa 2026' to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Pokémon's creation. It is understood that fans were drawn to a stamp rally event where participants could receive a rare 'Magikarp' card upon collecting stamps from specific locations.

As safety concerns were reported from the early morning, police deployed approximately 90 officers, including riot police. The dispersal of the crowd was completed around 2:15 PM, and no injuries were reported.

According to Seoul City estimates, the crowd in the Seongsu Cafe Street area surged from 26,000 people at 10 AM to 40,000 by noon. Approximately 120,000 people gathered inside the nearby Seoul Forest on the same day, with crowds dispersing into surrounding areas, further exacerbating congestion.

The organizer, Pokémon Korea, suspended the event around noon following requests from Seoul City and other authorities. They stated that the 'Magikarp' cards, originally intended for distribution, would be mailed later after collecting information online.