Seoul Deploys 4,594 Police Officers for Halloween Crowd Safety
Seoul police have opened a special safety-management period covering five popular districts, with thousands of officers and local government personnel assigned to manage crowds, traffic and public security around Halloween.
Seoul police will mobilize 4,594 officers as part of enhanced crowd-safety measures for Halloween gatherings, focusing on five districts expected to draw heavy foot traffic across the capital.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency began a special management period on Friday that will continue through Nov. 1. The operation covers Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu-dong, Myeong-dong and Ikseon-dong, all popular nightlife, shopping or tourism areas where large crowds may form around the Oct. 31 holiday.
The deployment will include strike teams, patrol units, special operations personnel, detectives and traffic officers. Staff from the metropolitan agency headquarters and 11 police stations have also been placed on emergency duty during the management period.
Local governments are coordinating with police on the safety operation. Yongsan District, which includes Itaewon, plans to deploy 2,550 personnel of its own. Authorities are preparing stricter road controls in the five designated areas from Oct. 30 through Nov. 1, when Halloween-related activity is expected to peak.
The measures carry particular significance in Itaewon, where a crowd crush on Oct. 29, 2022, killed more than 150 people. The disaster prompted sustained scrutiny of how authorities anticipate dangerous crowd density, coordinate agencies and manage gatherings without a single formal organizer. This year's deployment reflects the continuing emphasis on preventive crowd management in busy urban neighborhoods.
Police will also increase patrols in Itaewon, Hongdae and other crowded areas amid public concern about recent violent incidents. One case cited by authorities was an Oct. 13 stabbing attack at a shopping center in Incheon, where eight people were injured. One victim suffered cardiac arrest and had not regained consciousness when the safety plan was announced.
Officials also asked Halloween participants to avoid costumes and props that could alarm other people or create confusion during an emergency. Police specifically urged the public not to carry imitation guns or knives, or wear police uniforms, warning that such items could heighten unease in dense crowds and complicate the response to a real incident.
The operation combines crowd-flow controls, visible policing, emergency readiness and traffic management rather than relying on a single measure. With multiple agencies assigning personnel across several districts, the plan is intended to reduce risks before streets reach unsafe levels of congestion while allowing Halloween events to proceed.