Commemorating the 2nd Anniversary of the Tragic Halloween Party Incident in Itaewon

Looking back to October 29, 2022, a day of great fun for people who gathered at the Halloween party in Itaewon, Seoul, which saw record-breaking attendance. It was estimated that the number of participants could have reached nearly 100,000 people, as it was the first year after the relaxation of social distancing measures and mask-wearing rules following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the dense crowd in a narrow alley only 4 meters wide, chaos broke out at around 10:00 PM, with people pushing, falling, and trampling on each other. Many suffocated as their chests were compressed, leading to fatalities. The final count of casualties from the event was over 159, with more than 82 injured. Among the deceased, 19 were foreigners from Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan, China, Norway, and Thailand. Additionally, over 355 people were reported missing.