Seoul, November 24 (QNA) - The Office of the President of South Korea issued an order today to take all safety and security measures to protect football fans gathering on the streets ahead of the first South Korean national football teams match, against Uruguay, as part of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 competitions.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported that tens of thousands of people are expected to join the cheerleading events on the streets, across the country later in the day.

Authorities expect about 15,000 people to gather in the Gwanghwamun district in central Seoul, as well as about 20,000 people at a stadium in Suwon, south of Seoul, for cheering and public viewing.

Police and local governments have been ordered to set up safety barriers in those areas, in addition to other crowd control measures will be put in place.

The presidential office was equipped with a real-time monitoring system for those areas. Moreover, subway trains will not stop at stations in those areas if there were signs of sudden crowding.

The government has pledged to intensify efforts to enhance public safety measures in the wake of the Itaewon tragedy, which claimed the lives of at least 158 people in a stampede during a celebration last October.

(QNA)