As Halloween approaches on October 31, Seoul police and Yongsan District are implementing safety measures to prevent crowd-related incidents. The police will enhance patrols at crowded venues and conduct pre-event safety inspections, while Yongsan will utilize real-time crowd data to respond to potential risks.
According to Yonhap News, on October 19, Go Beom-seok, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, stated during a regular press briefing at the agency's headquarters in Jongno that a large influx of people is expected for Halloween. He noted that police stations and district offices are collaborating to conduct pre-event safety assessments.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency plans to hold a separate meeting to discuss Halloween safety measures. Go explained that he will personally visit the sites before Halloween to check on the preparations of local police stations and municipalities, providing necessary support. Visible patrol activities will also be intensified at crowded facilities to ensure citizens can easily identify police presence.
This initiative comes as the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy on October 29, 2022, approaches, and following a recent stabbing incident at a large commercial facility in Incheon, highlighting the importance of preventive measures.
Additionally, Yongsan District, where Itaewon is located, has designated a special 10-day Halloween safety period from October 23 to November 1, deploying over 2,550 personnel from the district office, police, and fire services for on-site safety management.
Since September, the district has held three meetings with relevant agencies, including the Yongsan Police Station, Yongsan Fire Station, Seoul Metro, the 3537th Army Unit, and the Itaewon Merchant Volunteer Group, to develop a safety management plan. During the safety period, a joint situation room will be established near the Itaewon Global Food Culture Street.
The district has emphasized a phased response utilizing real-time crowd data as a core element of its strategy. It will assess crowd density by integrating data from intelligent CCTV, the Yongsan real-time smart map, and the number of people disembarking at Itaewon Station, while also monitoring overall crowd conditions in the Itaewon tourist district through Seoul's real-time urban data.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety's crowd notification system will also be utilized. In the event of a risk alert, the situation will be immediately assessed via CCTV, and responses will be tailored accordingly, with enhanced monitoring capabilities at the disaster safety situation room and integrated control center.
Particularly during the Halloween weekend starting October 30, a disaster command bus will be deployed on-site to facilitate information sharing and response activities related to emergency situations.
Kim Kyung-dae, head of Yongsan District Office, stated, "We will work closely with relevant agencies to ensure thorough safety management without any gaps until the last day," urging visitors to actively cooperate with on-site guidance and controls.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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