{
  "id": 16517770,
  "title": "Itaewon's Lit Lounge shines beacon through dark times over 4 years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/itaewons-lit-lounge-shines-beacon-through-dark-times-over-4-years",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T20:47:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/globalcommunity/20261026/itaewons-lit-lounge-shines-beacon-through-dark-times-over-4-years"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Itaewon's Lit Lounge has emerged as a beacon of hope and resilience in the face of adversity, having celebrated its fourth anniversary recently. The establishment opened its doors in late October 2022, just a few months after the tragic Itaewon Halloween crowd crush incident, which claimed the lives of 159 people in a narrow alley less than 400 meters away from the venue.\n\nLit Lounge's owner, Jason Waller, known as Pinnacle TheHustler, shared that the aftermath of this devastating tragedy was even more challenging than the COVID-19 pandemic for businesses in Itaewon. Despite the immense pressure, Waller refused to give up on his business. He explained that the biggest reason for his determination was not wanting to look in the mirror and see himself as someone who had given up. Waller emphasized that as long as he still believed in what he was building and could envision a path forward, he was not ready to quit.\n\nNow, four years later, Lit Lounge stands tall as a testament to Waller's unwavering spirit and resilience. The establishment has managed to carve out a niche for itself in Itaewon, providing a safe haven and a source of entertainment for the community. Despite the challenges faced in the early days, Lit Lounge has managed to thrive, offering a beacon of light during dark times.",
  "summary": "Lit Lounge opened the doors of its Itaewon location just about four years ago in late October 2022. Following a soft opening on Oct. 27 and 28, its grand opening was held on Saturday, Oct. 29, a day that would go down in infamy, after 159 people died in a crowd disaster in a narrow alley a little less than 400 meters away. \"Lit Lounge's early existence was shaped by one of the most devastating…",
  "key_points": [
    "Lit Lounge opened in late October 2022, four years after the Itaewon Halloween crowd crush tragedy.",
    "Owner Jason Waller, known as Pinnacle TheHustler, refused to give up despite the challenges.",
    "Lit Lounge has become a beacon of hope and resilience in Itaewon's darkest times."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}