Halloween 2026 in Korea: 28 areas under watch, Itaewon and Hongdae first

From 23 October to 1 November, Korea runs a special crowd-safety plan in 28 districts, including Itaewon, Hongdae and Seongsu. What to know before going out on the 31st.

Updated 27 October 2026 · Dari team · 2 min read

Machine translation from French, being reviewed. Read the French version (reference)

Contents

Ten days of special measures
Itaewon: a stronger set-up
Official advice
What this means for you
In Dari
Sources

_Traduction automatique / Machine translation_

Halloween falls on Saturday 31 October this year, and Seoul's nightlife districts expect big crowds. Since the 2022 Itaewon disaster, Korea has managed this night closely. Here is what is planned for 2026 and how to enjoy it safely.

Ten days of special measures

On 20 October the Ministry of the Interior and Safety brought together the agencies involved (police, fire services, local governments). A special crowd-management period runs from 23 October to 1 November, according to SBS and the Kyunghyang Shinmun.

28 areas are monitored nationwide, 14 of them in Seoul, say SBS and the government portal Korea.kr. Twelve very busy spots get inspection teams:

City	Priority areas
Seoul	Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu-dong, Konkuk University area, Gangnam Station, Apgujeong, Myeong-dong, Ikseon-dong
Busan	Seomyeon
Daegu	Dongseong-ro
Daejeon	Dunsan-dong
Gwangju / South Jeolla	Cheomdan district

The teams check safety plans, on-site staff and bottlenecks (entrances, stairs, alleys). According to Korea.kr, ministry officials will be on these 12 sites from 30 October to 1 November, until the crowds have dispersed.

Itaewon: a stronger set-up

According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun, Yongsan district expects about 165,000 visitors in Itaewon and is deploying some 2,550 people (district, police, fire). A joint situation room sits near World Food Culture Street, with a mobile command bus. Haebangchon, Gyeongnidan-gil and Yongridan-gil are also monitored.

Crowds are tracked in real time: smart CCTV, exit counts at Itaewon Station, Seoul city data and the ministry's alert system, using a four-level congestion scale.

Official advice

According to SBS and Korea.kr, the authorities ask you to:

avoid very dense areas at peak times;
keep your distance in narrow passages, on slopes and on stairs;
follow staff instructions and walk on the right, one way when asked;
not stop suddenly or push;
report danger to 112 (police) or 119 (rescue).

Korea.kr adds a simple tip: spot the exits when you arrive, and if the crowd slows or you feel pressure, leave the area at once.

What this means for you

Going out on 30 or 31 October: expect barriers, set walking directions and staff guiding the crowd. That is normal, follow them.
Pick your time: arriving early, or going earlier in the week, makes for a nicer night.
Plan your way home: a very busy station may be regulated. Keep a taxi app ready and a back-up route.
Save the numbers: 112 and 119. The 1330 KTO travel hotline can help in English.
Alerts come to your phone: emergency texts (재난문자) are sent in Korean; keep a translator handy.