Seoul:Police will deploy approximately 7,800 personnel across the nation to manage crowds celebrating Halloween over the weekend, officials announced, as the country prepares for its fourth Halloween since the deadly 2022 Itaewon crowd crush.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the National Police Agency (NPA) will operate a special safety management period from Friday to Sunday. During this period, riot police, regional patrol teams, and detectives will be dispatched mainly to 28 key areas, including 14 locations in Seoul.
The government aims to prevent any recurrence of the October 29, 2022, tragedy in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, where 159 people died in a surge through a narrow alleyway. Police will manage pedestrian traffic in narrow bottleneck areas and guide crowds to walk in a single direction. If crowd density rises dangerously, police will restrict incoming traffic to create open space for people to disperse.
Real-time data will be shared with relevant agencies, and officers will be dispatched immediately in case of crowd-related reports. Additionally, officers will conduct strict stop-and-search operations for replica guns and illegal police uniform costumes.
On Friday morning, acting NPA Commissioner Kim Jong-chul inspected preparations for crowd safety on the streets of Itaewon and urged officers to maintain strict readiness for crowd safety, violent crimes, and terrorism. During his visit, Kim also laid flowers and paid silent tribute to the victims at a memorial space near the site of the 2022 tragedy, known as the "Oct. 29 Memorial Alley."