Haunted by Memories: Lingering Effects of Itaewon Crowd Tragedy Resurface on Halloween

On the night of October 29, 2022, Hye Minyi has a vivid recollection of the tragic events that unfolded in Itaewon, South Korea. The bustling nightlife district in the center of Seoul turned into a scene of devastation as a massive surge of people during Halloween festivities resulted in the deaths of over 150 individuals, leaving the entire nation in shock.

Hye, who is 22 years old, was accompanied by her older cousin Amy at a street bar located in Itaewon during that time. They were a part of a large crowd consisting of hundreds of people who had congregated at the various bars and restaurants lining the streets and alleyways of the district.

Oh Ji-min, 25, and her friend Kim -- whose face has been blurred by CNN at her request -- in a selfie taken eight minutes before the fatal crush.

Courtesy Oh's family

In Itaewon on Halloween, families are relying on selfies to reconstruct the tragic event that claimed the lives of 158 individuals. Hye vividly recalls the moment when panic swept through the densely packed streets, causing people to struggle for room to breathe, and witnessing the situation rapidly deteriorate.

Hye recounted to CNN how the scene underwent a drastic transformation. Amidst the chaos, people were in a state of panic, desperately attempting to flee. Hye also experienced the fall, during which she had a fleeting thought that a murderer was present among the crowd. From her position on the floor, she had a chilling view of other partygoers, some adorned in Halloween attire, but unfortunately lifeless. "Though time has elapsed, the events of that Halloween remain etched in my memory," she expressed.

"I still have nightmares (of it) almost every day."

By the end of the night, 159 people would be dead, many of them young Koreans in their 20s and 30s.

Hye suffered a broken ankle and severe bruisings from being badly trampled on and was in hospital for weeks. She also suffered painful migraines for days.

The crowd crush on Halloween killed more than 150 people.

Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images

Shoes of victims laid out for identification by families, which were retrieved by police from the scene.

Halloween, an ancient tradition with roots dating back centuries, is widely celebrated on October 31 in the US. In contrast, Asia predominantly views it as a Western holiday, predominantly embraced by expatriates. However, in recent times, its popularity has been gradually surging among the local population.

Halloween celebrations have become increasingly prevalent in major cities such as Tokyo, Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore. However, instead of the tradition of young children engaging in trick-or-treating, this occasion has now primarily evolved into an opportunity for young adults to don costumes and engage in a lively nightlife.

The impact of the unfortunate incident in Itaewon last year on the rising popularity of Halloween festivities remains uncertain. Nonetheless, numerous nightlife areas across Asia are taking proactive measures to avoid a recurrence of such a tragedy.

People walk across "Shibuya Crossing" in the Shibuya district of Tokyo on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) (Photo by PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images)

Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images

Popular Tokyo district urges tourists to stay away on Halloween

South Korean authorities have implemented enhanced crowd management measures, tightened security protocols, and conducted extensive site inspections in around 14 public locations throughout Seoul, in anticipation of significant gatherings during Halloween.

In Japan, officials are advising the youth to steer clear of the widely frequented zones within the Shibuya nightlife district, known for its burgeoning popularity as a Halloween rendezvous.

Concerns are high about the potential recurrence of the Itaewon tragedy, stated Shibuya mayor Ken Hasebe. In previous years, we simply urged individuals to behave appropriately during Halloween. However, this year we are taking a more assertive stance by kindly requesting people not to attend the event.

To ensure public safety, the consumption of alcohol will be prohibited on the streets from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Halloween and the days leading up to it. Hasebe emphasized that liquor stores in the area have been approached with the request to refrain from selling alcohol. In order to manage the crowds effectively, additional police officers and security personnel will be deployed to enhance street security measures.

"Each Halloween, the vicinity surrounding Shibuya Station becomes inundated with such a dense crowd that movement becomes almost impracticable," remarked Hasebe. "The streets of Shibuya are not designed as party locales, and the detrimental impacts of excessive tourism have grown increasingly severe."

Halloween night in Tokyo's Shibuya district in 2014.

Yuya Shino/Reuters

In order to avoid any potential panic, operators of an underground metro service in the city of Guangzhou, located in southeastern China, have implemented a ban on "scary makeup and attire" while riding the trains. The operators have stated that during Halloween activities, passengers with scary makeup may be requested to remove it prior to entering the station.

Areas in some stations will be cordoned off to allow passengers to remove make up before boarding trains.

Lack of accountability?

The Itaewon crowd crush marked South Korea's most significant peacetime catastrophe since the tragic sinking of a ferry in 2014 that claimed the lives of 304 individuals, including 250 students and teachers from Danwon State High School.

Similar to the ferry incident, the Itaewon crush exposed the South Korean government's handling of the calamity to scrutiny. Detractors condemned its delayed response and refusal to acknowledge responsibility for the events that unfolded that fateful night.

A police officer stands guard near floral tributes at the scene of a crowd crush that happened during Halloween festivities, in Seoul, South Korea, November 29, 2022.

Heo Ran/Reuters

Two former Seoul police officers arrested over deadly Halloween crush

Authorities have faced ongoing criticism and, this year, they seem to be unwilling to take any risks. In order to guarantee a safe Halloween, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has implemented numerous new measures. This includes the installment of a fresh CCTV system, which will monitor the size of the crowds.

The metropolitan government stated on October 13 that we expect 14 areas in Seoul, including Itaewon in Yongsan-gu, to encounter significant crowding during the Halloween season. To ensure safety, one-way traffic regulations will be implemented in all crowded areas, and we will deploy safety officers equipped with reflective vests and light batons on-site.

If the area becomes excessively crowded, subway trains may bypass that location, and road access may be limited to ensure an adequate amount of space for pedestrians. Moreover, proactive measures will be taken to prevent safety incidents, such as establishing on-site situation rooms and dispatching ambulances for urgent situations.

Mourners leave messages at a makeshift memorial to those killed in the Itaewon halloween disaster in Seoul.

Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Kun-hee visits a memorial altar for the victims of the Halloween stampede, in front of City Hall.

Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

For survivors, reminders everywhere

Today, Itaewon bears minimal visible reminders of the atrocities it endured, except for a handful of improvised memorials like walls adorned with post-it notes honoring the lives lost in that very place.

Both locals and tourists have resumed their patronage of its bars and restaurants, motivated in part by government initiatives designed to rejuvenate the locality.

However, for survivors and grieving families, painful memories are pervasive.

A survivor, identified as Lee for privacy reasons, stated to CNN that she hasn't returned to Itaewon since the tragedy and has been attempting to suppress any recollection of Halloween.

Shoes retrieved by police from the scene of a fatal Halloween crowd surge that killed 156 people in the Itaewon district.

Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images

Families of Halloween crush victims identify lost items as South Korean police admit mistakes

"This Halloween will be a challenging period not only for me but also for numerous individuals," she expressed. Her and numerous other survivors and families harbor strong concerns regarding what they perceive as an ongoing absence of responsibility regarding the catastrophe.

Kim Ho-kyung, who lost her daughter in the tragic incident, delivered a message on October 18th requesting a genuine apology from President Yoon Suk Yeol. During a press conference, she urged the president to attend a memorial service being organized by civil groups and the victims' families, scheduled for Sunday.

Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min took to his Facebook one week later to express his sincere condolences to those who lost their lives in the tragic October 29 incident a year ago. He also offered heartfelt prayers for their eternal rest.

In a show of deep sympathy, Minister Lee addressed the affected families, acknowledging his role as the minister responsible for disaster and safety. He conveyed his sincere apologies for his inability to safeguard the invaluable lives of the people and expressed an overwhelming sense of responsibility.

Lee and numerous others express skepticism about whether the valuable lessons from that dreadful night have genuinely been assimilated.

Lee is adamant that she will never return to the area again, firmly believing that Halloween and the Itaewon tragedy are closely intertwined. She explains that the abundance of reminders serve as constant triggers, forcing her to reflect on the loss of her friends that dreadful night.

A group of friends reunite at the Itaewon disaster site in Seoul.

Rebecca Wright/CNN

CNNs Gawon Bae contributed reporting from Seoul.