Ahead of Halloween Day on the 31st, the government will begin safety management focused on busy entertainment districts nationwide where large crowds are expected.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on the 21st that it unveiled the plan at a meeting of related agencies on safety management for crowds ahead of Halloween.
The ministry decided to designate the 10 days from Friday the 24th to Sunday, Nov. 2, as a special response period for Halloween crowd management. During this period, to prevent accidents caused by crowding in major entertainment districts, it will issue and operate the "caution" level of the crowd risk alert.
It also selected 29 areas nationwide where crowding is expected as key management targets for intensive oversight. In particular, at 12 locations including Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu-dong, Konkuk University area, Gangnam Station, Apgujeong, Myeong-dong, and Ikseon-dong in Seoul; Seomyeon in Busan; Culture and Theme Street in Incheon; Dongseong-ro in Daegu; and Chungjang-ro in Gwangju, the ministry will dispatch on-site situation management support officers to monitor safety management more meticulously.
Minister Yoon Ho-jung of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said, "The government will work with related agencies to put every effort into crowd management so that an accident like the deadly crowd crush in the nightlife district of Itaewon on 10/29 does not happen again," adding, "We also ask the public enjoying this year's Halloween festivities to actively cooperate with on-site guidance to maintain order."