Group 2

ITAEWON CROWD CRUSH

Introduction

On Saturday, October 29, 2022, during Halloween festivities in Itaewon, Seoul, a crowd crush
happened. The area famed for its pubs and clubs was packed with over 100,000 people. Chaos erupted
shortly after 10 p.m. on a narrow, steep side street near Itaewon station, which leads to a bevy of bars
and clubs from the main road. Witnesses described seeing crowds rushing in various directions and
individuals losing their balance on the slope, resulting in a domino effect. People tripped and knocked
others down, piling one on top of the other and entrapping them. Others attempted to escape  by scaling
the sides of the buildings.

- About 150 people were killed. Many victims of the Seoul disaster, especially women and young
adults in their twenties, are said to have died from cardiac arrest.

What is a crowd crush?

A crowd crush occurs when individuals are packed in a limited space and continue to push,
causing the crowd to tumble in a "domino effect" that makes it difficult for them to get back up. The
bigger the crowd, the stronger the effect of the crowd crush is.

THE EFFECTS OF ITAEWON CROWD CRUSH:

In Itaewon (Area):

- The neighborhood has become a sobering monument of grief and soul-searching after more
than 150 young people were killed during a crowd crush while celebrating Halloween last Saturday. Bars
that were throbbing with K-pop music just a week ago are now silent, their doors covered with
condolence messages and a notice from the local government asking people to refrain from loud music
and dancing. Since the disaster, an eerie sadness has prevailed in the neighborhood. Its streets and
alleys, which usually never sleep, went dark early in the evening. Many shops were closed, and
restaurants empty.

In Economy:

- A crowd crush in Seoul that killed more than 150 people may result in weaker South Korean
household spending, adding to pressures on the economy that range from rising interest rates to a
global slowdown.

- A string of festivals, concerts and sales promotions have been postponed or scrapped in
response to the crowd surge that occurred during Halloween celebrations.

Psychological and emotional effects of Itaewon Crowd Crush:

-
RESPONSES:

Government Responses:

The emergency reaction to the Itaewon crush in South Korea was "inadequate," according to the
country's police head, the first admission from officials that they did not do enough to avoid it. Following
the Itaewon Halloween disaster, the Korean government has promised to undertake a significant
overhaul of police management and the entire national safety system.

NGO Responses:

Other responses:

Preventions A risk assessment would involve looking at the space, seeing the routes people can
take, and understanding who is attending the event and their motivations, and then
implementing countermeasures to prevent a crowd crush.
Protection

Mitigation

Responses

Recovery