Police to deploy 7,800 personnel nationwide for crowd safety during Halloween

Police will deploy around 7,800 personnel nationwide from Friday to Sunday to manage Halloween crowds, including in 28 key areas and 14 locations in Seoul. The measures aim to prevent a repeat of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, which killed 159 people. Officers will direct pedestrian flows, restrict entry if crowd density becomes dangerous and respond to crowd-related reports. Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Kim Jong-chul inspected preparations in Itaewon on Friday morning and paid tribute to the victims.

The National Police Agency will dispatch riot police, regional patrol teams and detectives to the key areas.

Police plan to share real-time data with relevant agencies and send officers immediately to scenes following crowd-related reports.

Officers will conduct stop-and-search operations targeting replica guns and illegal police uniform costumes.

The 2022 crowd crush occurred on Oct. 29 in a narrow alley in Itaewon, a Seoul nightlife district.

Kim laid flowers and observed a moment of silence at the Oct. 29 Memorial Alley near the site of the tragedy.

Published Oct 30, 2026 4:17 pm KST

Kim Jong-chul, center, acting Commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency, visits Itaewon, Seoul, Friday, and inspects preparations for crowd safety for Halloween. Yonhap

Police will deploy around 7,800 personnel across the nation to manage crowds celebrating Halloween over the weekend, officials said Friday, as the country prepares for its fourth Halloween since the deadly 2022 Itaewon crowd crush.

The National Police Agency (NPA) said it will operate a special safety management period from Friday to Sunday. During the period, riot police, regional patrol teams and detectives will be dispatched mainly to 28 key areas, including 14 locations in Seoul.

The government is seeking to prevent any recurrence of the Oct. 29, 2022, tragedy in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, where 159 people died in a surge through a narrow alleyway.

Police will split pedestrian traffic in narrow bottleneck areas and guide crowds to walk in a single direction, officials said. If crowd density rises dangerously, police will restrict incoming traffic from the perimeter to secure open space for people to disperse.

Police said they will share real-time data with relevant agencies and dispatch officers immediately to scenes in case of crowd-related reports.

Officers will also conduct strict stop-and-search operations for replica guns and illegal police uniform costumes.

On Friday morning, acting NPA Commissioner Kim Jong-chul inspected preparations for crowd safety on the streets of Itaewon and urged officers to maintain strict readiness for crowd safety, violent crimes and terrorism.

During his visit, Kim also laid flowers and paid silent tribute to the victims at a memorial space near the site of the 2022 tragedy, known as the "Oct. 29 Memorial Alley."

从周五到周日，警方将在全国范围内部署约7800名警力，以应对万圣节期间的人流，其中包括首尔的28个重点区域和14个地点。这些措施旨在防止2022年梨泰院人群踩踏事件重演，那次事件造成159人死亡。警员将引导人流，在人群密度过高时限制入场，并对人群相关的报告做出响应。国家警察厅代理厅长官金钟哲于周五上午视察了梨泰院的准备工作，并向遇难者致哀。

国家警察厅将向重点区域派遣防暴警察、地区巡逻队和侦探。

警方计划与相关机构共享实时数据，并在接到与人群相关的报告后立即派警员前往现场。

执法人员将开展拦截搜查行动，目标是仿制枪支和非法警服。

2022 年 10 月 29 日，首尔夜生活区梨泰院一条狭窄的巷子里发生了一起人群踩踏事件。

金在 10 月 29 日的纪念巷（靠近悲剧发生地）献花并默哀片刻。

发布于2026年10月30日下午4:17（韩国标准时间）

韩国国家警察厅代理厅长官金钟哲（中）周五视察首尔梨泰院，检查万圣节人群安全防范措施。（韩联社）

官员周五表示，警方将在全国范围内部署约 7800 名人员，以管理周末庆祝万圣节的人群。这是自 2022 年梨泰院人群踩踏事件造成人员伤亡以来，韩国迎来的第四个万圣节。

韩国国家警察厅宣布，将于周五至周日实施特别安全管理措施。在此期间，防暴警察、地方巡逻队和刑警将主要部署在28个重点区域，其中包括首尔的14个地点。

政府正努力防止 2022 年 10 月 29 日发生在首尔热门夜生活区梨泰院的悲剧重演，当时 159 人在一条狭窄的巷子里被人群冲撞致死。

警方表示，将在狭窄的瓶颈区域对行人进行分流，并引导人群单向通行。如果人群密度过高，达到危险程度，警方将限制周边区域的车辆通行，以确保有足够的空间供人群散去。

警方表示，一旦接到与人群有关的报告，他们将与相关机构共享实时数据，并立即派遣警员前往现场。

警方还将对仿制枪支和非法警服进行严格的拦截搜查。

周五上午，国家人民检察院代理专员金钟哲视察了梨泰院街头的防暴准备工作，并敦促警员们保持对防暴、暴力犯罪和恐怖主义的严密防范。

在访问期间，金正恩还在2022年悲剧发生地附近的纪念场所（被称为“10月29日纪念巷”）献花，并向遇难者默哀。