[PHOTOS] Halloween returns to Itaewon
How many years does it take a neighborhood to recover from tragedy? Four years ago, central Seoul's multicultural Itaewon neighborhood suffered an unspeakable accident, when over 150 people were crushed to death in a crowded alley. In the two years following the disaster, there was an atmosphere of cautious commemoration under the watchful eye of a heavy police presence, as people worked through…
![[PHOTOS] Halloween returns to Itaewon](/img/17521979)
Halloween has returned to Seoul's multicultural Itaewon neighborhood, more than four years after a tragic accident claimed over 150 lives. The area was once under constant police watch as residents grappled with trauma and the fear of judgment for being too celebratory. However, the holiday seems to be returning to a sense of normalcy.
Decorations for Halloween began appearing in the neighborhood over the past few weeks, despite protests from hardcore Christians who saw the holiday as perceived queerness. But it wasn't until Friday that large crowds started gathering in the streets.
On Saturday, the main road through Itaewon was closed off to traffic, allowing tens of thousands of people to celebrate the holiday on foot. This precaution, which should have been implemented immediately after the disaster, significantly reduced the potential danger.
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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- [PHOTOS] Halloween returns to Itaewon koreatimes.co.kr
