4 years on, Itaewon businesses face Halloween with mixed expectations
The streets of Itaewon have gone through several iterations over the years — not just the place itself but the meaning attached to it. If you ask someone from the early 2000s or even the 2010s, they would paint a completely different landscape from the Itaewon that exists today. Itaewon is going through a period of social reconstruction, fueled by several factors — the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022…
Since its inception, Itaewon has undergone numerous transformations, both in terms of its physical appearance and the sentiments associated with the area. Individuals who grew up in the early 2000s or during the 2010s would describe a vastly different Itaewon compared to the one that exists currently. The city is currently undergoing a social reconstruction phase, driven by a multitude of factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 Halloween crowd crush incident, the departure of U.S. military personnel from the nearby Yongsan Garrison, commercial redevelopment efforts, and the recent tightening of restrictions on Itaewon businesses.
Despite the current political climate surrounding Itaewon, which feels oppressive and gloomy, some local business owners remain optimistic about the area's future. Linus Kim, an owner of Linus BBQ who has been in operation for over a decade, anticipates that the Halloween nightlife will be more vibrant than during the immediate aftermath of the tragic crowd crush event.
"Itaewon's nightlife has experienced a notable resurgence over the past year, fueled in part by a new generation that came of age during the COVID-19 pandemic."
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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