Home

The Korea Herald

Latest news

Most Popular

  1. 1

    Now is no time to add pressure on businesses: top executives

    Now is no time to add pressure on businesses: top executives
  2. 2

    CJ CheilJedang to spur overseas growth with new Hungary, US plants

    CJ CheilJedang to spur overseas growth with new Hungary, US plants
  3. 3

    Seoul to host winter festival from Dec. 13

    Seoul to host winter festival from Dec. 13
  4. 4

    Nationwide rail disruptions feared as union plans strike from Dec. 5

    Nationwide rail disruptions feared as union plans strike from Dec. 5
  5. 5

    Blackpink's solo journeys: Complementary paths, not competition

    Blackpink's solo journeys: Complementary paths, not competition
  1. 6

    N. Korea, Russia court softer image: From animal diplomacy to tourism

    N. Korea, Russia court softer image: From animal diplomacy to tourism
  2. 7

    Smugglers caught disguising 230 tons of Chinese black beans as diesel exhaust fluid

    Smugglers caught disguising 230 tons of Chinese black beans as diesel exhaust fluid
  3. 8

    [Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Jennie, Lisa invited to Coachella as solo acts

    [Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Jennie, Lisa invited to Coachella as solo acts
  4. 9

    Actor Song Joong-ki welcomes second child in Rome

    Actor Song Joong-ki welcomes second child in Rome
  5. 10

    Main opposition pushes to ease, not postpone, tax on crypto gains

    Main opposition pushes to ease, not postpone, tax on crypto gains
지나쌤

Stronger control was necessary, said the witnesses recounting the accident

By Lee Jung-youn

Published : Oct. 31, 2022 - 16:11

    • Link copied

Police and the National Forensic Service officials conduct a joint inspection at the scene of the crowd surge accident in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Monday. (Yonhap) Police and the National Forensic Service officials conduct a joint inspection at the scene of the crowd surge accident in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Monday. (Yonhap)

Around the moment of the accident, many foreign tourists who witnessed the scene commented the main street should have been closed to help create extra space.

“I’ve managed to escape the ally (where the accident took place) just before it happened,” said Nofit, a 29-year-old tourist. “It almost took 15 minutes to walk about three to four meters.”

However, Nofit said she saw police or guards guiding the crowd inside the subway station after the disaster, but not that many police beforehand.

Revital, a 54-year-old tourist said she was at the Itaewon station around 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

“I did not see any officials or authorities inside the subway. But it was really crowded. It took almost 20 minutes just to get out of the subway station.”

She pointed out the street was full of vehicles as the one of the main reasons the crowd could not escape. “The main street was opened to vehicles. If the street was closed (to vehicles), people could have escaped. They could not run out because they were afraid of the cars.”

Moon Min-sik, who has a parking lot nearby the disaster scene, also said the road should have been closed off.

“Back in 2017, I recall part of road was closed and police formed a safety line. Similar measure should have been made this year," he said.

"The local government and district offices should have cared more. More active control and number of police should have been deployed," deplored Moon.

Park, a male restaurant owner in his 30s who have lived in Itaewon his whole life and saw most Halloween celebrations, said the alley where the accident happened has always been the most jammed with tourist and partygoers.

“The alley (where the accident occurred) is where the most popular restaurants and bars are clustered. Everyone who lives around the area doesn’t visit there because it’s obvious the alley is going to be crowded with people.”

“There has always been this high amount of people during Halloween. I’ve seen almost every Halloween festival throughout the years, and this year wasn’t a special situation,” said Park.

More from Headlines