On the weekend leading up to Halloween, at 10 p.m. on the 25th, as I left Itaewon Station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, I heard voices urging people to maintain order. When a woman took a photo in a narrow alley next to Exit 1, a police officer immediately stopped her, saying, "There are a lot of people, so don't stop." Despite the excitement, a cautious tension was felt on the street. The police and local governments are making every effort to manage crowds for a 'safe Halloween,' and they have been conducting patrols to prevent a repeat of the disaster from three years ago. They have also taken steps to maintain order in advance, such as deploying personnel and other measures. On this day, Itaewon was bustling with people looking to enjoy the weekend, and various Halloween costumes such as dinosaurs, rabbits, and movie characters stood out. In particular, the World Food Culture Street, packed with restaurants and clubs, was packed with people waiting to enter the shops and foreigners admiring Korea's weekend scenery. Despite the large foot traffic, there was no major congestion. One-way traffic was smooth based on the central divider installed on the street, and warning sticks were placed in every alley. It was thanks to police officers and district officials stationed there to control the crowds. When the queue in front of the store became long and obstructed passage, the police immediately instructed them to "stay as close to the wall as possible." The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has designated the period from the 24th to the 2nd of next month as a 'Halloween Special Countermeasure Period,' and is strengthening management in 14 crowd-dense areas in Seoul, including Itaewon and Hongdae. A total of 4,922 police officers will be deployed, with additional safety fences and equipment added at key locations. At the scene, police will not only manage crowds but also They also removed bricks, shut off high-pressure gas valves, and carefully checked for hazards, and personally checked whether the '112 emergency bell' installed on the streetlights was working. Park (27), who visited Itaewon wearing a mask resembling the cartoon character 'Jjang-gu,' said, "After the disaster, Halloween I was anxious every time I approached, but it's more orderly than I expected, so I feel at ease." Mr. A (45), who has run a restaurant for over 10 years, said, "I think Itaewon is the safest place in Seoul," and added, "Among merchants, there are even concerns that excessive controls might reduce the number of tourists."
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