Last Year's Halloween Was Crowded Too... Police Failed to Predict This Year, Resulting in No Response

Last Halloween Weekend Last Year, 2.4 Times Higher Than Average Weekend in Same Month
Despite Creating Police Manual, No Response...Criticism Grows

During the national mourning period following the Itaewon tragedy, the memorial space set up around Itaewon Station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd is filled with condolence messages written by citizens. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] It has been confirmed that the number of 112 emergency calls received in Itaewon during last year's Halloween weekend was 2.4 times the average number of calls on weekends in the same month.

According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to Rep. Im Hoseon of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 5th, the Itaewon Police Station handled 368 reports during last year's Halloween weekend, which was 2.4 times the average number of reports on weekends in the same month.

Before the COVID-19 situation, the number of reports during the Halloween weekend in 2019 also reached 353. However, in 2020, it was only 172. Despite the number of reports more than doubling since last year during this period, no response system was established at all.

It was also confirmed that the police, despite having created a safety management manual in 2014, failed to prevent the crush disaster.

According to the safety management manual for mass gathering events, the police, who protect the lives and property of the people, must strive to ensure safety by proactively intervening when necessary, judging in advance the risks inherent in the event even if they are not immediately visible.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.