How many police personnel will Seoul deploy for Halloween, and which districts will they cover?

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency plans to deploy 4,594 personnel, including riot police, patrol teams, special task force members, detectives and traffic police. The named districts are Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu, Myeongdong and Ikseon-dong.

How will police and local governments manage traffic during Seoul’s Halloween period?

From Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, police will work with local district governments to control traffic and restrict vehicle access in phases based on crowd density. The broader special safety management period runs from Friday to Nov. 1.

Why are police planning preventive patrols in Itaewon and Hongdae for Halloween?

Police say the patrols are intended to ease public anxiety caused by a recent series of stabbing rampages. The heightened Halloween safety measures also come as Seoul prepares for its fourth Halloween since the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, which claimed 159 lives.

Seoul police step up crowd safety measures for Halloween

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Summary

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will deploy 4,594 personnel to major nightlife districts across Seoul from Friday to Nov. 1 for Halloween crowd safety. Officers will be sent to Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu, Myeongdong and Ikseon-dong, where large crowds are expected. From Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, police and local governments will restrict vehicle access in phases according to crowd density. The measures come ahead of Seoul’s fourth Halloween since the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, which killed 159 people.

Key Facts

The deployment includes 30 riot police units, 120 regional patrol teams, 120 special task force members, 99 detectives and 765 traffic police.
Police will conduct preventive patrols in Itaewon and Hongdae amid public anxiety over a recent series of stabbing rampages.
A police official asked people not to carry or wear props such as guns, knives or police uniforms for costume play purposes.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 23, 2026 3:25 pm KST

Police officers direct pedestrian traffic on a crowded street in Itaewon, Seoul, Oct. 31, 2025, as people celebrate Halloween. Korea Times photo by Moon Ji-soo

Police will step up crowd safety measures in major nightlife districts across Seoul for Halloween festivities next week, officials said Friday.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) said it will operate a special safety management period from Friday to Nov. 1. During this period, 4,594 police personnel — including 30 riot police units, 120 regional patrol teams, 120 special task force members, 99 detectives and 765 traffic police — will be deployed to Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu, Myeongdong and Ikseon-dong, where large crowds are expected to gather.

The heightened safety measures come as Seoul prepares for its fourth Halloween since the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, a tragic incident that claimed 159 lives in a narrow alleyway in the popular nightlife neighborhood.

From Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, police will closely manage traffic control in collaboration with local district governments, restricting vehicle access in phases based on crowd density.

In major crowd gathering areas like Itaewon and Hongdae, police will also carry out preventive patrols to ease public anxiety caused by a recent series of stabbing rampages.

"We will do our utmost for safety management on the ground, focusing on crowd-dense places so that people can feel at ease," a police official said. "To prevent people from feeling anxious, please refrain from carrying or wearing props such as guns, knives or police uniforms for costume play purposes."

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