4,600 Personnel Deployed to Itaewon and Hongdae for Halloween; Preventive Patrolling Against Stabbing Attacks

Police will implement phased vehicle traffic controls and intensive crowd management in major areas such as Itaewon and Hongdae around Halloween on October 31.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is operating a special Halloween countermeasure period from today, October 23, through November 1.

Yesterday, October 22, authorities conducted on-site inspections and discussed countermeasures with relevant organizations, including the Yongsan-gu Office.

During on-site inspections conducted across managed areas from October 8 to 16, police requested local governments to take action against long queues at major clubs, obstacles blocking pedestrian pathways, and street vendors causing pedestrian congestion.

Depending on the level of congestion on site, police plan to designate certain sections exclusively for entry or exit, and block the influx of crowds if necessary.

A total of 4,594 police personnel—including 30 riot police units, 120 metropolitan prevention patrol teams, 120 commandos, 99 detectives, and 765 traffic police officers—will be intensively deployed to five key managed areas expected to draw large crowds: Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu, Myeong-dong, and Ikseon-dong.

In addition, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will issue an emergency alert for heightened vigilance targeting relevant divisions and 11 police stations during the special countermeasure period.

Preventive patrols will also be conducted in major crowded areas such as Itaewon and Hongdae to alleviate public anxiety caused by a recent series of random knife attacks.

Furthermore, the period from October 30 to November 1 has been designated as an intensive traffic control period. In cooperation with autonomous districts such as the Seoul Metropolitan Government, vehicle traffic will be controlled in stages depending on crowd density.

Targeted areas for traffic control include Itaewon-ro in Yongsan-gu (from the Itaewon entrance to the Cheil Worldwide intersection), Jandari-ro in Mapo-gu (from Samgeori Pocha to Sangsang Madang), Yeonmujang-gil in Seongdong-gu (from the Daelim Changgo intersection to Gyeongdong Elementary School intersection), Myeongdong-gil in Jung-gu (from the Samil-daero entrance to the front of the Central Post Office), and Ikseon-dong in Jongno-gu (Donhwamun-ro 11-gil).

Safety management focused on pedestrians will be implemented in phases: Stage 1 involves managing illegal parking and obstacles in crowded zones; Stage 2 involves partial vehicle control and securing emergency vehicle routes; and Stage 3 involves full restriction of vehicle entry.

Detailed traffic conditions can be checked through the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency traffic information hotline (☎ 02-700-5000), the traffic information center website (www.spatic.go.kr), and KakaoTalk (Traffic Information Center navigation).

A police official stated, "We will do our utmost in on-site safety management focusing on crowded areas so that citizens can feel secure," adding, "We ask citizens to refrain from carrying or wearing props such as toy guns, knives, or police uniforms intended for cosplay to prevent public anxiety."

(File Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.