[Report] "Halloween Is Coming Soon", The Current Scene in Itaewon...

[Financial News] "I'm not too worried about this Halloween. Many preventive measures have been put in place since the tragedy."
A citizen met in Itaewon, Yongsan District, Seoul, on the evening of the 24th, a week before Halloween, shared these thoughts. They noted that the area has changed significantly since the 2022 Itaewon tragedy. With Halloween approaching on the 31st, police are making thorough preparations to prevent a repeat of the disaster that claimed 159 lives.
On this evening, starting around 6 p.m., the reporter accompanied the SMPA Mobile Patrol Unit 1 on a foot patrol around Itaewon. The patrol was divided into four teams, each consisting of five to six officers. The route began at the Statue of Peace near Noksapyeong Station intersection, passed through Itaewon World Food Street and Quinon-gil, and returned to Noksapyeong Station, covering approximately 1.5 kilometers.

Although there were not many people on the streets in the early evening, various safety facilities could be seen throughout Itaewon. Safety fences were erected at the edge of sidewalks to separate pedestrians from the road, and red central dividers were installed on Itaewon World Food Street, which is usually crowded. According to the police, these measures are intended to separate pedestrian flows and reduce congestion when crowds gather.
Police inspected potential hazards throughout the patrol. In front of some shops, merchants had placed bricks to secure signboards, but officers removed them as a precaution. Kim Moon-gyeom, leader of Mobile Patrol Unit 1, Team 2, explained, "This is a preventive measure to eliminate risk factors in advance. In an emergency, such objects could be used as weapons by intoxicated individuals, so we remove them."

Police also checked the functionality of Emergency Bells. During the patrol, pressing an Emergency Bell immediately prompted a response: "This is the Yongsan District CCTV Control Center." After confirming the system was working properly, officers moved on. Emergency Bells connect to the Yongsan Police Station situation room and the Yongsan-gu Office Integrated CCTV Control Center, and are regularly tested in case of urgent situations. Police also checked for proper Emergency Bell operation and the absence of illegal recording devices such as hidden cameras in public restrooms in Itaewon.
Officers were also seen advising citizens on safety during the patrol. When a middle-aged woman jaywalked on a red light and apologized to the police, they reminded her, "You should cross on the green light," and asked her to be cautious.

On this day, not only police but also members of voluntary crime prevention groups joined the patrols in Itaewon. Dozens of these volunteers inspected the area for risk factors and provided support. Kang, a 65-year-old member of the group, stated, "I participate in these activities to prevent incidents like the Itaewon tragedy three years ago from ever happening again. I am determined to protect my own neighborhood."
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) has designated the period from the 24th to the 2nd of next month as the 'Halloween Special Measures Period' and will deploy 4,922 officers for safety management. Joint on-site situation rooms will be operated in eight key management areas: Ikseon-dong in Jongno District, Myeongdong Street in Jung District, Itaewon Special Tourist Zone in Yongsan District, Cafe Street in Seongdong District, Kondae Taste Street in Gwangjin District, Hongdae Special Tourist Zone in Mapo District, Gangnam Station and Apgujeong Rodeo Street in Gangnam-gu. These will be staffed by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), Seoul Metropolitan Government, police, Autonomous Districts, and fire authorities.
In addition, roads in major entertainment districts expected to see large crowds—such as Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu-dong, and Myeong-dong—will be closed to vehicles. The 24th–25th of this month and the 31st–1st of next month have been designated as intensive management periods, during which traffic will be controlled in stages according to crowd density, in cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and local governments. During these periods, SMPA will deploy about 230 traffic police officers daily to manage traffic at major intersections.
Kim Young-geun, head of SMPA Mobile Patrol Unit 1, noted, "Not only the police, but also district offices and voluntary crime prevention groups are working together for citizen safety. When there are large crowds, we ask that people keep moving in one direction rather than stopping in one place. Police will provide guidance, so please cooperate actively."
welcome@fnnews.com Jang Yoo-ha Reporter