[PHOTOS] Halloween returns to Itaewon【照片】梨泰院万圣节活动回归
How many years does it take a neighborhood to recover from tragedy? Four years ago, central Seoul's multicultural Itaewon neighborhood suffered an...
Itaewon, Seoul, saw Halloween crowds return on Saturday, with the main road closed to traffic and tens of thousands of pedestrians celebrating. The neighborhood had spent the years after the 2022 crowd crush under cautious commemoration and heavy police presence. More people wore costumes, and parents with young children visited early. Line 6 trains began skipping Itaewon Station at 11:47 p.m., followed by an emergency alert about overcrowding on World Culture Food Street at 11:50 p.m.
The 2022 crowd crush in Itaewon killed more than 150 people.
Halloween decorations had appeared around the neighborhood in the weeks before the crowds arrived.
Hardcore Christians protested Halloween and what they perceived as its queerness.
Yonhap reported that more than 32,000 people had gathered in Itaewon by 10 p.m., and the crowd grew larger afterward.
Published Nov 1, 2026 11:30 am KST
Updated Nov 1, 2026 11:33 am KST
4 years after disaster, neighborhood shows signs of healing, moving on
Women in costumes pose at a crowd control fence in the middle of the street in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
How many years does it take a neighborhood to recover from tragedy? Four years ago, central Seoul's multicultural Itaewon neighborhood suffered an unspeakable accident, when over 150 people were crushed to death in a crowded alley.
In the two years following the disaster, there was an atmosphere of cautious commemoration under the watchful eye of a heavy police presence, as people worked through their trauma — and also feared judgment for being too celebratory.
The area may never be the same again, but Halloween 2026 seemed a step closer back to business as usual.
Halloween decorations were popping up through the neighborhood over the past few weeks, and hardcore Christians were out protesting the holiday and its perceived queerness. But it was not until Friday that the crowds really started showing up.
On Saturday, the main road through Itaewon was closed off to road traffic — a precautioun that should have been taken four years ago — handing the street over to tens of thousands of pedestrians celebrating the holiday. Making room in the streets helped significantly to reduce the pressure on the local alleys.
People in costumes were out in larger numbers than the last couple years. There were people in silly costumes, scary costumes, gory costumes, many which would have been considered inappropriate in the previous two years. Notably, parents with young children were out in the area early on.
According to Yonhap, more than 32,000 people had gathered in Itaewon as of 10 p.m., but the crowd grew larger more after that. At 11:47 p.m., Line 6 subway trains began skipping Itaewon Station. At 11:50 p.m., an emergency text message was sent out notifying people to avoid Itaewon's World Culture Food Street due to overcrowding.
The wounds of Halloween 2022 will never fully heal, but the community has shown that it is finally ready to keep on living.
People gather in the October 29 Memorial Alley in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 29, four years after a deadly crowd accident claimed over 150 lives here. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
People in costumes enter the October 29 Memorial Alley in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 30. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Police control foot traffic in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 30. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A Halloween decoration hangs in front of a Korean restaurant in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Costumed people dance in an alley in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Women in costumes hurry across a closed street in front of police buses in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
People stand in the middle of the street in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31, after the street was closed off to vehicle traffic. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Children receive candy in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A father and his children set up a food stand in front of La Planque, a French restaurant in central Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A dinosaur pauses for pictures in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Women in traditional outfits stand in the middle of the street in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A couple in Mario and Luigi costumes walk through an alley in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Luigi costumes were more plentiful than Mario for another year. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A woman stands next to a man in a tall costume in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A person in a shark costume walks in the street in central Seoul's Itaewon, Nov. 1. Shark costumes were popular this year, perhaps due to the recent craze over Bukangi, a shark trapped in a harbor in Busan. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
People walk through Alley Market in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A man in a mask controls a costumed robot dog in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A man in a Donald Trump costume waves U.S. flags in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A Christian displays an anti-gay sign in front of the Hamilton Hotel in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 17. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A man dressed as Jesus poses awkwardly after being confronted with his followers' messages in central Seoul's Itaewon, Nov. 1. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
The alley behind the Hamilton Hotel is crowded with people in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Emergency vehicles are parked in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 31. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
A ghost decoration is on display in the October 29 Memorial Alley in central Seoul's Itaewon, Oct. 30. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
首尔梨泰院周六迎来了万圣节的人潮，主干道封闭交通，数万行人涌上街头庆祝。自2022年发生人群拥挤事故以来，该地区一直采取谨慎的庆祝活动，并加强了警力部署。今年，更多人穿上了万圣节服装，带着幼儿的家长也早早来到现场。晚上11点47分，地铁6号线开始不停靠梨泰院站；随后，晚上11点50分，世界文化美食街发布了人流拥挤的紧急警报。
2022年梨泰院人群踩踏事件造成150多人死亡。
在人群到来前的几周，附近街区就出现了万圣节装饰。
一些极端基督徒抗议万圣节，认为万圣节带有同性恋色彩。
韩联社报道称，截至晚上 10 点，已有超过 32000 人聚集在梨泰院，之后人群还在不断增加。
发布于2026年11月1日上午11:30（韩国标准时间）
更新于2026年11月1日上午11:33（韩国标准时间）
灾后四年，社区展现出复苏的迹象，正在向前发展。
10月31日，在首尔市中心梨泰院，身着盛装的女子在街道中央的隔离围栏前摆姿势拍照。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
一个社区需要多少年才能从悲剧中恢复过来？四年前，首尔市中心多元文化的梨泰院社区发生了一起惨绝人寰的事故，超过150人在拥挤的巷子里被踩踏致死。
灾难发生后的两年里，人们在严密的警力监视下，小心翼翼地进行着纪念活动，努力克服创伤，同时也担心因庆祝过度而受到评判。
这个地区或许再也回不到从前了，但2026年的万圣节似乎标志着一切恢复如常又近了一步。
过去几周，万圣节装饰陆续出现在附近街区，一些极端基督徒也走上街头抗议这个节日及其被认为带有同性恋色彩的倾向。但直到上周五，人群才真正开始聚集起来。
周六，梨泰院的主要道路封闭，禁止车辆通行——这项预防措施本应在四年前就实施——将街道让给了数万名庆祝节日的行人。街道的开放极大地缓解了附近巷道的交通压力。
与前两年相比，今年盛装打扮的人们数量更多。他们有的穿着滑稽，有的穿着恐怖，有的穿着血腥，其中许多装扮在前两年会被认为不合时宜。值得注意的是，带着幼儿的父母很早就出现在了活动区域。
据韩联社报道，截至晚上10点，已有超过3.2万人聚集在梨泰院，之后人群仍在不断增加。晚上11点47分，地铁6号线列车开始不停靠梨泰院站。晚上11点50分，当局发出紧急短信通知，提醒民众由于梨泰院世界文化美食街人流拥挤，请避开该区域。
2022 年万圣节的创伤永远不会完全愈合，但社区已经表明，它终于准备好继续生活下去了。
10月29日，人们聚集在首尔市中心梨泰院的10月29日纪念巷，悼念四年前在此发生的造成150多人丧生的致命人群事故。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月30日，身着戏服的人们进入首尔市中心梨泰院的10月29日纪念巷。韩国时报记者Jon Dunbar摄
10月30日，警方在首尔市中心梨泰院维持人流秩序。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月31日，首尔市中心梨泰院一家韩国餐厅门前悬挂着万圣节装饰品。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月31日，身着盛装的人们在首尔市中心梨泰院的一条小巷里跳舞。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月31日，在首尔市中心梨泰院，身着盛装的女子匆匆穿过警车前封闭的街道。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月31日，首尔市中心梨泰院街道封闭后，人们站在街道中央。韩国时报记者乔恩·邓巴摄
10月31日，孩子们在首尔市中心梨泰院收到糖果。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月31日，一位父亲带着孩子们在首尔市中心梨泰院的法国餐厅La Planque门前摆起了小吃摊。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月31日，一只恐龙模型在首尔市中心梨泰院停留片刻，供人们拍照。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月31日，身着传统服饰的妇女们站在首尔市中心梨泰院的街道中央。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月31日，一对情侣分别装扮成马里奥和路易吉，走过首尔市中心梨泰院的一条小巷。路易吉的装扮再次比马里奥的更多。韩国时报记者乔恩·邓巴摄
10月31日，在首尔市中心梨泰院，一名女子站在一名身着高大戏服的男子旁边。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
11月1日，一名身穿鲨鱼服的人走在首尔市中心梨泰院的街头。今年鲨鱼装扮十分流行，这或许与近期釜山港口搁浅鲨鱼“布干奇”事件引发的热潮有关。（韩国时报 乔恩·邓巴摄）
10月31日，人们走过首尔市中心梨泰院的巷子市场。韩国时报摄影师Jon Dunbar摄
10月31日，在首尔市中心梨泰院，一名戴着面具的男子操控着一只身着戏服的机器狗。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月31日，一名身穿唐纳德·特朗普服装的男子在首尔市中心梨泰院挥舞美国国旗。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月17日，一名基督徒在首尔市中心梨泰院的汉密尔顿酒店前展示反同性恋标语。韩国时报记者乔恩·邓巴摄
11月1日，在首尔市中心梨泰院，一名装扮成耶稣的男子在被追随者们质问后，尴尬地摆出姿势。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月31日，首尔市中心梨泰院，汉密尔顿酒店后面的小巷里挤满了人。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月31日，首尔市中心梨泰院停满了应急车辆。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）
10月30日，首尔市中心梨泰院的10月29日纪念街上摆放着一个鬼魂装饰。（韩国时报 Jon Dunbar 摄）