The annual bell-ringing ceremony will be held at the Bosingak Bell pavilion in downtown Seoul on Saturday to ring in the New Year.

A total of eleven citizens have been picked by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to toll the bell at midnight, including Kil Won-ok, an 89-year-old victim of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery. 

Others selected include female archer Chang Hye-jin, who won two gold medals at the Rio Olympics, and Jeon Myeong-seon, a representative for the families of the victims of the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon will also take part in the event.

When the clock strikes midnight, the bell will be rung 33 times. The practice dates back to the Joseon Dynasty, during which authorities would ring the bell 33 times every morning to signal the start of the day's work activities.

Before and after the bell-tolling event, there will be celebratory performances.

The city will extend the operations of subway and bus by two hours to allow more spectators to attend.