Halloween Stampede in Seoul Leaves 153 Dead, Including K-Pop Star

Twenty-four-year-old singer and actor Lee Ji-han was among the casualties of the crowd crush.

Many countries around the world celebrated Halloween over the weekend, but things took an ugly turn in Seoul, South Korea, where around 153 people were crushed and suffocated to death in a stampede which left another 33 people in critical condition.

On 29 October, almost 100,000 people gathered in a clogged, narrow street in Itaewon for the first virtually unrestricted Halloween festivities in three years. However, the crowd turned unruly and choked the street, resulting in casualties.

The festivities descended into chaos, with photos and videos on social media showing huge crowds crammed into a narrow alley. Eyewitnesses described partygoers being packed so tightly together that it was difficult to move around or breathe.

An estimated 100,000 people packed the streets f Witnesses said police had trouble controlling the crowds. Just after 10 PM, chaos erupted, and witnesses reported seeing crowds rushing in different directions and people losing their footing on a slope on the street, which caused a domino effect.

People reportedly tumbled over and knocked others down, piling up on one another and unable to move.

The first calls to emergency services were made around 10.15 PM, and the fire authorities initially received dozens of reports from people in the area with breathing difficulties.

Witnesses said the streets were so densely clogged with people and slow-moving vehicles that it was impossible for emergency workers and ambulances to reach the area in time.

Authorities are still investigating what caused the incident, but the Chief of the Yongsan-gu Fire Department, Choi Seong-bum, said it was a “presumed stampede” and that many people had fallen and were crushed.

The authorities in Seoul received more than 3,580 missing person reports, the city government revealed.

Among the 153 attendees confirmed dead is K-pop singer and actor, Lee Ji-han. The 24-year-old was known for being a contestant on the Mnet audition show, Produce 101 season 2, in 2017.

His agency, 935 entertainment, released a statement that read:

Actor Lee Ji-han, who is like part of our precious family, left our side and became a star in the sky. We send our deepest condolences to his surviving family, who are deeply saddened by the sudden tragic news, and those who have loved Lee and mourn his death.

Note that Itaewon is known for its nightlife, bars, and restaurants.

Mourners wept, prayed, and placed flowers at a huge official altar erected in central Seoul for the victims (mostly young women) today.

The Government of South Korea has declared a week of national mourning for this tragic accident, with canceled entertainment events and concerts and flags flying at half-mast nationwide.