Seoul's Halloween stirs Itaewon tragedy memories as police tighten safety controls

Pedestrians walk along a center divider installed on Itaewon’s World Food Street in Seoul’s Yongsan District on Halloween night, Friday. Yonhap

As Halloween returned to Seoul on a Friday night, memories of the deadly Itaewon crowd crush lingered over the city’s party districts, where festive crowds packed Itaewon, Hongdae and other areas while the authorities issued safety alerts and worked to manage swelling foot traffic.

Police began blocking entry to the alley behind the Hamilton Hotel, the site of the 2022 tragedy that killed 159 people, and guided pedestrians through nearby streets. The Yongsan District Office said subways would skip Itaewon Station from 11 p.m. due to overcrowding and sent a mobile safety alert around 10:30 p.m. warning that dense crowds near the station could be dangerous.

In Hongdae, more than 100,000 revelers gathered in the nightlife zone, prompting large electronic billboards to flash “very crowded” warnings. Officials estimated between 105,000 and 110,000 people were in the tourist area, with another 30,000 near Hongik University Station. Safety workers patrolled the streets, calling for people to “keep walking” and “avoid standing still,” while police installed temporary fences to direct one-way pedestrian flow.

The narrow alleys were filled with young people dressed in elaborate Halloween costumes inspired by movies, anime and K-pop culture.

A person in costume walks along Itaewon’s World Food Street in Seoul’s Yongsan District on Halloween night, Friday. Yonhap

The government said it had strengthened safety measures this year, anticipating larger crowds as Halloween coincided with a Friday amid the global K-content boom and the recent resumption of visa-free entry for Chinese tourists.

In Itaewon, police whistles echoed along the World Food Street as officers tried to maintain order. Other popular nightlife areas, including Apgujeong’s Rodeo Street and Konkuk University’s food alley, were also busy but less congested.

At the Itaewon alley where the tragedy occurred, mourners placed white chrysanthemums and pumpkin-shaped lanterns at a memorial display titled “Path of Memory and Safety.” Near Noksapyeong Station, civic groups held an event called “A Festival of Mourning and Safety,” where participants in costume honored the victims and called for continued vigilance in crowd management.