Pokemon 30th Anniversary Event Canceled

A 30th-anniversary event for the Japanese animation and game franchise "Pokémon" held in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, was suspended due to an overwhelming crowd, prompting police and fire department deployment.

Incident Overview:

• Date and Time: Morning of May 1st
• Location: Seongsu-dong area, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
• Cause: Pokémon 30th Anniversary Pop-up Store Event and Rare Card Giveaway
• Outcome: Reports of safety concerns due to a massive crowd, police and fire department dispatched, event suspended.

Key Details:

• Pokémon Korea opened a pop-up store in Seongsu-dong to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pokémon and held an event to give away rare cards to game participants.
• With the May 1st Labor Day holiday, Pokémon fans flocked to the area from early morning. The crowd surged further with visitors to the Pokémon-themed garden at the "2026 Seoul International Garden Show" taking place in the nearby Seoul Forest.
• According to Seoul City estimates, the number of people in the Seongsu Cafe Street area rose from 26,000 at 10 AM to 40,000 around noon.
• The crowd is understood to have intensified during the "Seoul Stamp Rally Event."

Response and Actions:

• Starting around 10:39 AM, multiple reports were received stating "safety concerns due to dense crowds," leading authorities to manage the scene.
• The organizers suspended the event around noon at the request of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and other entities.
• During the event suspension, some participants protested, leading to altercations, and police were dispatched to mediate.
• Pokémon Korea posted an announcement on its official social media accounts stating, "The event has been temporarily suspended due to safety reasons caused by the large crowd," and advised followers to check for future updates.

Reactions and Public Opinion:

• Photos of Seongsu-dong alleys packed with people were posted on social media, accompanied by messages expressing concern such as "Worried about a stampede accident," "Control is needed," and "Don't go anywhere near Seongsu today."
• Some visitors complained about the inconvenience, stating, "There are so many people in the Seongsu-dong area that even the internet is barely working."