Acting Commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency Inspects Itaewon Ahead of Halloween

On the 28th, with Halloween approaching, Jaesung Yoo, Acting Commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), visited Itaewon to review safety management preparations.
The KNPA announced that Acting Commissioner Yoo visited the Itaewon Police Box that morning and received a briefing from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) on its support measures for Halloween safety management.
Yoo emphasized the need for proactive safety activities in areas where large crowds are expected and called for active cooperation with related organizations such as local governments and voluntary crime prevention groups.
The police are implementing safety management measures at 29 key areas designated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS). To prepare for potential crowd surges, four additional locations have been identified, bringing the total to 33. In Seoul, the 14 sites include Itaewon, Hongdae Tourist District, Gangnam Station, Myeong-dong, and Seongsu-dong Cafe Street. Outside Seoul, the 19 sites include Seomyeon in Busan, Gunam-ro, Gwangalli Beach, Daegu Dongseong-ro Street, and Jeonju Hanok Village.
Police will focus safety activities on high-risk areas such as steep slopes, especially after 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. In cooperation with local government officials, they will control crowd entry and exit, guide detours, and prevent crowd overheating and friction. Additional efforts include traffic management and crime prevention activities targeting unusual motive crimes and offenses involving intoxicated individuals.
If local governments recommend dispersing crowds or suspending events due to safety concerns, police will be actively deployed to ensure pedestrian safety, maintain order, and manage traffic.
The police, together with MOIS and local governments, conducted a preliminary joint inspection on the 24th. On the 30th, the day before Halloween, they plan to conduct joint inspections at 12 major management areas. They will also participate in on-site joint situation rooms with related agencies to share real-time information and coordinate responses.
The police have designated a special Halloween response period from the 24th through November 2 and issued a 'Caution' level crisis alert. The SMPA, which had implemented an emergency work system in preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, will maintain this system at 11 major police stations until 3 a.m. on November 2, even after the event concludes. Provincial police agencies nationwide have also been on emergency duty since the 20th in anticipation of APEC.
Acting Commissioner Jaesung Yoo stated, "At a time when national issues such as APEC overlap, the police will mobilize all available resources to protect the lives and safety of the public."
unsaid@fnnews.com Kang Myung-yeon Reporter