Around on 29 October , a crowd surge occurred during Halloween festivities in the Itaewon neighborhood of Seoul , South Korea. According to the South Korean government, people were killed and others were injured. The death toll includes two people who died after the crush. The victims were mostly young adults; 27 of the victims were foreign nationals. The crowd crush is the deadliest disaster in South Korea since the sinking of MV Sewol in and the largest mass casualty incident in Seoul since the Sampoong Department Store collapse in A special police team conducted an investigation of the disaster within a few days of it occurring, and concluded on 13 January that the police and governments' failure to adequately prepare for the crowds, despite a number of ignored warnings, was the cause of the incident.
Following the disaster and throughout the investigation, the government and police faced widespread criticism and protest. President Yoon Suk Yeol and his administration faced a number of protests that demanded his resignation, although he did not resign. Initially, the President accepted some responsibility for the event but later retracted the statement and deflected responsibility. Itaewon is a part of the Yongsan District of Seoul.
Its recent history is closely tied to the once nearby US military base Yongsan Garrison , which was established in Due to the numerous bars and brothels that arose in the area catering towards the troops, many Koreans have since associated the district with controversy and danger. Twenty years after the โ Korean War , Itaewon gentrified , and in the US military moved its base to southern Seoul.
In recent years, the Itaewon district has been a popular location for nightlife gatherings, with trendy nightclubs, restaurants, and bars. Beginning around , the celebration of Halloween experienced a surge in popularity in South Korea, and especially in Itaewon. The area immediately around the crush is characterized by very narrow streets and alleys without escape routes.
The street where the crush would occur is about 45 metres ft long and 3. The street had an iron temporary wall that reduced its width. This incline later caused people to be pushed downward, with dozens of people falling onto others. Authorities had been concerned since at latest about the crowding issue, but did not act on these concerns.
