PHOTOS Halloween returns to Itaewon
Women in costumes pose at a crowd control fence in the middle of the street in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
4 years after disaster, neighborhood shows signs of healing, moving on
How many years does it take a neighborhood to recover from tragedy? Four years ago, central Seoul's multicultural Itaewon neighborhood suffered an unspeakable accident, when over 150 people were crushed to death in a crowded alley.
In the two years following the disaster, there was an atmosphere of cautious commemoration under the watchful eye of a heavy police presence, as people worked through their trauma — and also feared judgment for being too celebratory.
The area may never be the same again, but Halloween 2026 seemed a step closer back to business as usual.
Halloween decorations were popping up through the neighborhood over the past few weeks, and hardcore Christians were out protesting the holiday and its perceived queerness. But it was not until Friday that the crowds really started showing up.
On Saturday, the main road through Itaewon was closed off to road traffic — a precautioun that should have been taken four years ago — handing the street over to tens of thousands of pedestrians celebrating the holiday. Making room in the streets helped significantly to reduce the pressure on the local alleys.
People in costumes were out in larger numbers than the last couple years. There were people in silly costumes, scary costumes, gory costumes, many which would have been considered inappropriate in the previous two years. Notably, parents with young children were out in the area early on.
According to Yonhap, more than 32,000 people had gathered in Itaewon as of 10 p.m., but the crowd grew larger more after that. At 11:47 p.m., Line 6 subway trains began skipping Itaewon Station. At 11:50 p.m., an emergency text message was sent out notifying people to avoid Itaewon's World Culture Food Street due to overcrowding.
The wounds of Halloween 2022 will never fully heal, but the community has shown that it is finally ready to keep on living.
People gather in the October 29 Memorial Alley in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 29, four years after a deadly crowd accident claimed over 150 lives here. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
People in costumes enter the October 29 Memorial Alley in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 30. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Police control foot traffic in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 30. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A Halloween decoration hangs in front of a Korean restaurant in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Costumed people dance in an alley in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Women in costumes hurry across a closed street in front of police buses in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
People stand in the middle of the street in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31, after the street was closed off to vehicle traffic. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Children receive candy in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A father and his children set up a food stand in front of La Planque, a French restaurant in central Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A dinosaur pauses for pictures in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Women in traditional outfits stand in the middle of the street in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A couple in Mario and Luigi costumes walk through an alley in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Luigi costumes were more plentiful than Mario for another year. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A woman stands next to a man in a tall costume in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A person in a shark costume walks in the street in central Seoul's Itaewon, Nov. 1. Shark costumes were popular this year, perhaps due to the recent craze over Bukangi, a shark trapped in a harbor in Busan. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
People walk through Alley Market in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A man in a mask controls a costumed robot dog in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A man in a Donald Trump costume waves U.S. flags in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A Christian displays an anti-gay sign in front of the Hamilton Hotel in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 17. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A man dressed as Jesus poses awkwardly after being confronted with his followers' messages in central Seoul's Itaewon, Nov. 1. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
The alley behind the Hamilton Hotel is crowded with people in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Emergency vehicles are parked in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A ghost decoration is on display in the October 29 Memorial Alley in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 30. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar