Nearly 160,000 gather in Seoul for Halloween weekend without major incidents
publishers 56articles 63first reported 26 Oct, 10:54 UTCdeveloping since 26 Oct · 7 editionstop 25 #6
Nearly 160,000 people gathered in Seoul’s Itaewon and Hongdae nightlife districts on Saturday during Halloween weekend, with no major safety incidents reported as of Sunday morning, according to The Korea Herald.
Seoul Real-time City Data estimated that 120,000 to 125,000 people were in Hongdae’s tourism district at 9 p.m., while Itaewon drew about 30,000 to 32,000. Dense crowds slowed pedestrians in some locations, prompting police to direct movement, separate opposing flows and install barricades.
Authorities imposed traffic restrictions on Itaewon’s main road from 6 p.m. Seoul Metro trains also bypassed Itaewon Station from 11:47 p.m. through the end of service to limit additional arrivals. Officials reported only minor incidents involving intoxication and altercations.
Police also investigated social-media claims that a masked man had distributed candy containing psychotropic substances. After apprehending the man, officers found no suspicious substances and closed the case as a misunderstanding.
The weekend came four years after the Oct. 29, 2022, crowd crush in Itaewon that killed 159 people. Groups held a memorial ceremony at Noksapyeong Station Square and later marched through an Itaewon alley in tribute to the victims.
Crowds began thinning after midnight, when Hongdae’s estimated attendance fell to between 86,000 and 88,000 while Itaewon remained at about 30,000 to 32,000.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 7 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 5 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 132 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 56
- Source articles
- 63
- Given to the writer
- 7, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 5
- This version written
- 132 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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