Seoul police and Yongsan district plan stronger Itaewon crowd controls for Halloween
Police are coordinating safety inspections as Yongsan district prepares to deploy about 2,550 people and monitor crowding during a 10-day Halloween safety period.
Seoul police and Yongsan district are preparing stronger crowd-safety measures in Itaewon for Halloween, including inspections and a planned deployment of about 2,550 personnel from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1. The preparations come four years after a Halloween crowd crush in the Seoul nightlife district killed 159 people.
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief Ko Beom-seok said police are working with ward offices on safety inspections ahead of the Oct. 31 celebrations, Yonhap News Agency reported. Yongsan district has designated Oct. 23 through Nov. 1 as a special safety period, according to Herald Business.
How Itaewon crowds will be monitored
Yongsan district expects about 165,000 visitors to the Itaewon area over the 10 days, based on visitor trends from the previous three years, Herald Business reported. The forecast covers areas including World Food Culture Street and Quinon-gil. Personnel from the district office, police and fire department are expected to manage crowds during the period.
The district plans to use a four-tier response system informed by real-time crowd data. It will draw on intelligent CCTV cameras, a district smart map and passenger exit counts at Itaewon Station. Operators will check CCTV when a danger alert is triggered, while monitoring will also cover nearby areas where large crowds are expected, including Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan-gil, Herald Business reported.
A joint operations center is planned near World Food Culture Street throughout the special period. Deployed staff will have assigned duties covering safety and order, traffic, emergency medical services, facility checks and other operations. A disaster command bus is scheduled to be stationed in the area from Oct. 30 to help agencies share information and coordinate an emergency response.
Preparations before the Halloween weekend
Since September, Yongsan district has held three planning meetings with local police and fire services, Seoul Metro, an army unit and a merchants’ group, Herald Business reported. Crews are scheduled to check 218 cameras and 49 emergency call buttons at 59 Itaewon locations between Oct. 12 and Oct. 22, including their connections to the control center. The district has also been enforcing restrictions on illegally parked vehicles and objects left on roads since Oct. 12.
Yongsan district mayor Kim Kyung-dae asked visitors to follow guidance and crowd-control measures. The 2022 disaster occurred when crowds surged into a narrow alley during Halloween celebrations in Itaewon, according to Yonhap. This year’s deployment and monitoring measures are scheduled for the coming festivities.
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Sources and context
- Crowd safety measures to be strengthened in Seoul ahead of HalloweenYonhap News Agency
- Yongsan-gu mobilizes 2,550 personnel for Halloween crowd safety in ItaewonHerald Business
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.