Seoul Halloween crowd crush

On 29 October 2022, at approximately 22:20, a crowd surge occurred during Halloween festivities in the Itaewon neighborhood of Seoul, South Korea, resulting in 159 deaths and 196 injuries. The total number of fatalities includes two individuals who died following the incident. Most victims were young adults, and 27 were foreign nationals.

The incident was the deadliest disaster in South Korea since the sinking of the MV Sewol in 2014 and the most severe mass-casualty event in Seoul since the Sampoong Department Store collapse in 1995. It was also the deadliest crowd crush in South Korean history, surpassing a 1959 incident at the Busan Municipal Stadium in which 67 people were killed.

A special police task force began an investigation within days of the event and concluded on 13 January 2023 that inadequate preparation by the police and government, despite multiple prior warnings, was the primary cause.

In the aftermath, and throughout the investigative period, the government and police faced widespread criticism and protest. President Yoon Suk Yeol and his administration faced several protests calling for his resignation; however, he did not step down. The president initially acknowledged partial responsibility for the incident but later retracted his acknowledgement and shifted responsibility elsewhere.

Background

History of the district

Itaewon is a neighborhood located within the Yongsan District of Seoul.