Seoul to closely watch 15 popular areas on Halloween to prevent repeat of Itaewon disaster
Published: 23 Oct. 2024, 14:55
![Police stationed in Itaewon ordered people to move along the once-popular alleyway on Oct. 27, 2023. A barrier had been set up to prevent overcrowding, believed to have been a significant factor in the deaths of 159 people in a crowd crush two years ago. [CHOI KI-WOONG]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/10/23/76207f91-b4a6-4870-b088-0ac780231094.jpg)
Police stationed in Itaewon ordered people to move along the once-popular alleyway on Oct. 27, 2023. A barrier had been set up to prevent overcrowding, believed to have been a significant factor in the deaths of 159 people in a crowd crush two years ago. [CHOI KI-WOONG]
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Wednesday that it will implement special safety measures in 15 prioritized areas of the city, such as Itaewon and Hongdae, where large crowds are expected ahead of this year’s Halloween.
The city government will designate areas expected to draw crowds spanning 11 districts and 15 locations, including tourist zones in Itaewon, central Seoul, and Hongdae, western Seoul. It also includes the “Streets of Flavor” in the Konkuk University area, western Seoul, and Gangnam Station and Apgujeong Rodeo Street, southern Seoul.
The plan is a response to the crowd crush of Oct. 29, 2022, which claimed the lives of 159 people who had gathered in central Seoul's Itaewon nightlife area in Yongsan District for Halloween celebrations.
During the safety management period, the city government will inspect the designated areas, conduct on-site patrols, install safety fences and enforce traffic control measures.
Joint field situation rooms will be set up in eight locations, and the city and district disaster safety situation rooms will also support operations.
These field situation rooms will be linked with local district disaster safety situation rooms and integrated control centers for surveillance cameras, allowing real-time monitoring and swift responses in case of accidents.
![Bereaved relatives of the Itaewon crowd crush cry in front of the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Thursday after the court found the ex-chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency not guilty. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/10/23/02e3d3c4-d86e-4a19-918e-0c3726227c51.jpg)
Bereaved relatives of the Itaewon crowd crush cry in front of the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Thursday after the court found the ex-chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency not guilty. [NEWS1]
A comprehensive Halloween situation room will also be established at the city’s disaster safety situation room, and local district government offices will be on emergency duty.
The city government will also prepare for safety accidents by utilizing CCTV with crowd detection capabilities. The system automatically measures the number of people per unit area and immediately alerts related agencies and the public when danger is detected.
Of the designated areas, eight locations are expected to draw the largest crowds — Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu-dong, the Konkuk University area, Gangnam Station, Apgujeong, Ikseon-dong, central Seoul, and Myeong-dong — have been designated as key management areas. The city government plans to thoroughly prepare in advance by inspecting dangerous facilities, planning crowd movement routes, and verifying emergency response plans, fire and emergency plans and cooperation systems for emergencies.
![Police stationed in Itaewon ordered people to move along the once-popular alleyway on Oct. 27, 2023. A barrier had been set up to prevent overcrowding, believed to have been a significant factor in the deaths of 159 people in a crowd crush two years ago. [CHOI KI-WOONG]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/10/23/8eefe772-dd7b-44d4-bece-1434db1d0d2b.jpg)
Police stationed in Itaewon ordered people to move along the once-popular alleyway on Oct. 27, 2023. A barrier had been set up to prevent overcrowding, believed to have been a significant factor in the deaths of 159 people in a crowd crush two years ago. [CHOI KI-WOONG]
The government has also designated a Halloween-focused safety management period from Oct. 25 to Nov. 3. During this period, the government will conduct patrols and monitor activities in collaboration with related agencies such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, local districts, the police and fire departments.
Joint on-site patrols will be conducted from Oct. 25 to 27, just before Halloween, focusing on these key management areas.
According to the specific measures for each area, more than 4,200 safety personnel will be deployed to disperse crowds in Itaewon. Crowd management measures will also be activated based on the congestion level at Itaewon Station, central Seoul.
On Itaewon World Food Street and nearby Quy Nhon Street in central Seoul, crowd inflow will be controlled or blocked when congestion exceeds warning levels, and entrances and exits will be operated separately.
In Hongdae, digital boards will be installed in specialized tourist areas like Red Road to provide information related to congestion. Around 380 safety personnel will be deployed at key points, and the AI-based crowd density analysis system will be expanded to strengthen real-time monitoring.
In the Streets of Flavor in the Konkuk University area, 24-hour real-time crowd density monitoring will be conducted. Measures such as nonstop subway passage, crowd danger warnings via emergency speakers and disaster text message alerts will help disperse and redirect crowds.
On Friday, the city government held a meeting to review Halloween safety management measures, presided over by Yoo Chang-soo, the city’s second vice mayor for administrative affairs, along with representatives from the city, local districts, local police committees and the police.
![The alley where the Itaewon tragedy took place two years ago on Oct. 29, 2022. Picture taken on Aug. 8. [JOONGANG ILBO]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/10/23/361553a8-accd-44af-b8f1-321bf73286fc.jpg)
The alley where the Itaewon tragedy took place two years ago on Oct. 29, 2022. Picture taken on Aug. 8. [JOONGANG ILBO]
The city government conducted a comprehensive review of the areas where large crowds are expected and the measures in place.
"We will maintain tight safety management without letting our guard down during the safety management period, working closely with related agencies to ensure there are no gaps," said Yoo.
BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)