Recently, excitement among children waiting for Halloween Day (Oct. 31) has been intense. That contrasts with the cautious mood that has continued among people in their 20s and 30s since the deadly crowd crush in the nightlife district of Itaewon in 2022.
Requests to "hold a Halloween party" keep coming to academies and kindergartens, and at home, families make reservations in advance for campgrounds or kids' cafes to prepare events. Some say "kids' Halloween," centered on children, is taking hold as a new culture.
◇"Itaewon Halloween," established in the 2000s, the mood cools
Halloween falls on Oct. 31 each year and began as a Western custom in which children, dressed up, go door to door shouting "Trick or treat (if you don't give me a snack, I'll play a trick)" and receive candy from neighbors.
In Korea, starting in the 2000s, a culture spread in Itaewon, a district popular with foreigners, of walking the streets in various costumes and unique outfits to show off. With social media (SNS) taking off in the 2010s, large crowds flocked to Itaewon around Halloween Day each year to enjoy the festivities. Alcohol and retail companies ramped up marketing on Halloween Day, and amusement parks held "zombie events" late into the night.
But after the deadly crowd crush in the nightlife district of Itaewon in 2022, the mood among people in their 20s and 30s toward Halloween Day changed. Last year, the number of "Halloween" searches on the Naver internet portal among people in their 20s and 30s was only 24% of the 2022 level. By contrast, among those in their teens and younger, it was relatively high at about 39%.
Children's interest in Halloween has recovered faster than adults'. Heo Chang-deok, a professor of sociology at Yeungnam University, said, "For children, the core of culture is the motivation of 'fun,'" and noted, "They take a lively interest in Western culture they have seen in drama or movies and naturally enjoy it separate from any trauma."
◇Halloween-themed campgrounds see "reservation battles" among families
As Halloween fever has recovered among children, households have been busy so their kids can enjoy the festivities. When day care centers or academies hold Halloween parties, parents need to prepare outfits and props for their children.
Jeon, 36, a parent who sends a child to an English kindergarten in southern Gyeonggi, said, "This time I found the outfit I wanted on a secondhand trading platform," and added, "One parent I know who is into fashion couldn't find what they wanted on domestic shopping sites and started preparing in early this month to buy directly from overseas."
When there is no Halloween festival, parents and children look for outside programs themselves. Campgrounds are a prime example. Some campgrounds decorate spaces with pumpkins and lights for Halloween and run costume missions or candy-sharing events. It's not just camping; they add play elements in which kids can participate.
These campgrounds are so popular that events continue not only on Oct. 31 but throughout October. A campground official said, "Halloween camping is so competitive to book that by mid-September, reservations for some 20 camping zones are all closed." Kids' cafes are also decorated with pumpkin ornaments and other Halloween-related props and are promoted as "Halloween cafes," drawing family customers.
At schools, teachers and students sometimes differ over Halloween. Lee, 46, an elementary school teacher in Gunpo, Gyeonggi, said, "There is no official school event, but students sometimes hold their own party through a class meeting," and added, "Even if they don't know the cultural background well, most want it, so we often go along with the mood."
By contrast, Kim, 39, a teacher in Dalseong County, Daegu, said, "There was a tragedy a few years ago, and since it isn't a holiday in Korea, we decided there was no need to mark it, so we won't hold events."