AI, drones guard nightlife districts as Seoul ramps up Halloween safety measures
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will deploy artificial intelligence crowd (AI)-monitoring cameras, airborne drones and mobile command buses across 14 major nightlife hubs starting Friday as part of an intensive safety management campaign ahead of Halloween. The special safety management period, running from Friday through Nov. 1, comes as city officials brace for large weekend crowds fueled by…
Seoul's Metropolitan Government plans to use AI camera surveillance, airborne drones, and mobile command buses to enhance safety in 14 major nightlife districts starting Friday. This intensified safety management campaign precedes Halloween, which is expected to attract a large crowd due to a spike in international tourism. The safety management period extends from Friday until November 1st.
The surge in tourism has resulted in monthly foreign visitor arrivals surpassing 2 million for three consecutive months, with total inbound travel between May and September exceeding 10 million. The increased security measures are a response to the traumatic Itaewon crowd crush incident in October 2022, which claimed 159 lives in a narrow, sloped alleyway.
The tragedy led to a complete overhaul of Korea's municipal safety protocols, transforming Halloween into one of the country's most heavily policed and technologically monitored public events. The targeted zones encompass eight high-density priority areas, including Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu-dong, and other significant areas known for their vibrant nightlife.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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