Seoul police said Friday 4,594 officers will be dispatched for crowd safety at areas expecting heavy foot traffic around Halloween, including the Itaewon area, where a crowd crush killed more than 150 people on Oct 29, 2022.
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency kicked off a special management period from Friday to Nov. 1, during which they will enforce crowd safety measures in five areas in the city: Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu-dong, Myeong-dong and Ikseon-dong.
Strike teams, patrol teams, special operation units, detectives and traffic control officers will be mobilized in these areas. Officers from SMPA headquarters and 11 police stations across the city have been put on emergency duty during this period.
Local district offices are working with the police to ensure that the citizens stay safe during the Halloween celebrations, which falls on Oct. 31.
Yongsan-gu, which includes the Itaewon area, plans to deploy 2,550 personnel during the special management period.
Authorities will enforce strict control of the road traffic in the five areas from Oct. 30-Nov. 1
Police officials will patrol the crowded areas like Itaewon and Hongdae, in light of the growing public fear over unprovoked attacks, after several recent incidents. They include a stabbing spree on Oct. 13 in Incheon, when a 59-year-old man launched an attack at a shopping center and injured eight people.
One of the victims suffered cardiac arrest and has yet to regain consciousness.
Police urged citizens to avoid Halloween costumes that could cause confusion or alarm.
"Please refrain from carrying or wearing props such as guns, knives and police uniforms, in order not to stir unease among the public," a police offical said.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com