Itaewon, Hongdae Packed on Halloween; Police Deploy 7,800 Nationwide

For the first time since the Oct. 29 Itaewon disaster, a weekend coincided with Halloween. As many as 140,000 people gathered in the Hongdae and Itaewon areas of Seoul on the 31st. Police deployed 7,800 personnel to major entertainment districts across the country to manage safety.

Mourners continue to visit the site of the Itaewon disaster in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 29th, the fourth anniversary of the Oct. 29 tragedy. Yonhap NewsJapgolly

According to Seoul’s real-time urban data, the population in the Itaewon Special Tourist Zone in Yongsan-gu was estimated at 18,000 to 20,000 as of 7 p.m. that day. The area was rated “crowded,” and people in their 20s accounted for 38.3% of the total.

At the same time, 115,000 to 120,000 people gathered on Hongdae Red Road in Mapo-gu, where congestion was rated “very crowded.” People dressed in character costumes and Halloween makeup gathered throughout the streets to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Despite the large crowds, pedestrian traffic proceeded in a relatively orderly manner. In Hongdae, safety barriers were installed to guide pedestrians, allowing them to move in one direction, and no major disruption occurred in the Itaewon area.

Police deployed 7,800 personnel, including mobile police units, metropolitan crime prevention patrol teams and detectives, to 28 key management areas nationwide, including 14 in Seoul. Vehicle traffic was restricted on Itaewon’s main street starting around 6 p.m. that day. Officers deployed at the scene patrolled the streets and managed pedestrian movement.

Meanwhile, people continued to visit the alley where the Itaewon disaster occurred four years ago to pay tribute to the victims. They honored the victims by laying chrysanthemums at the site and reading Post-it notes bearing memorial messages.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.