South Korea: Police say crowd control measures at Itaewon 'inadequate'

The South Korean police said that the crowd control measures at Itaewon, where the fatal Halloween crowd crush occurred, were “inadequate.” Law enforcement officials have pledged to come up with stronger safety measures to prevent such an incident from happening again.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, National Police Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun said he felt “limitless responsibility” for the incident that led to over 150 people dead and was the deadliest such disaster in the country that took place after around 100,000 people went to the Itaewon area’s bars and clubs to take part in the Halloween festivities. Most of the visitors were in their teens and 20s.

However, there was no indication that the police or authorities were actively managing the growing crowd, as the celebration was not an official event and did not have an organizer. Yoon said that “there were multiple reports to the police indicating the seriousness of the site just before the accident occurred.”

Yoon said the police were aware that a large crowd had gathered before the fatal accident took place, noting that the way authorities handled the information was not enough.

“I will do my best to make sure such a tragedy as this does not occur again,” said Yoon, and that the “police will speedily and rigorously conduct intensive inspections and investigation on all aspects without exception to explain the truth of this accident.”

On the same day, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a national period of mourning and visited the makeshift memorial to pay his respects to the victims.

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the police would have to explain how they responded after they received multiple emergency calls indicating the accident hours and minutes before it occurred. 156 people were killed in the crowd crush, and 151 were injured, 29 of which are in critical condition, and around 14 citizens from 26 countries were among the fatalities.

“The police must conduct thorough inspections and provide a clear and transparent explanation to the public,” said Han in his televised remarks at the beginning of the task force meeting on the matter on Wednesday.