Police warn of bigger crowds in Mapo, Gangnam this Halloween

The police will manage 16 key neighborhoods in Seoul during the Halloween period with special safety plans to prevent stampedes and crowd crushes.

Yi Han-kyung, chief of the Disaster and Safety Management office at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, visits and inspects the streets in Ikseon-dong, an area expected to be crowded during Halloween. The inspection was conducted on Oct. 21. [YONHAP]

Larger crowds are expected in Seoul's Mapo and Gangnam areas this Halloween than in Yongsan, where Itaewon is located, the police warned on Monday.

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will manage 16 key neighborhoods in Seoul during the Halloween period with special safety plans to prevent stampedes and crowd crushes.

The police will put additional effort into controlling crowds in areas with narrow alleyways. It will designate the roads as either one-way or two-way roads.

The areas include alleyways in Itaewon, Gangnam and the gopchang and pocha streets in Mapo, where dozens of vendors sell beef intestine and Korean traditional liquors and foods.

More than 1,000 police officers will enforce safety measures in the selected areas from Oct. 27 to 31. Police barricades and special-purpose police vehicles with special broadcasting system and lighting will also be deployed.

Police designated 16 neighborhoods in Seoul that are expected to be crowded during the Halloween weekend, including Myeong-dong, Itaewon and Ikseon-dong in central Seoul, Seongsu-dong, streets near Wangsimni Station and Konkuk University Station in eastern Seoul, Sinchon, Hongdae, Balsan Station and Mullae-dong in western Seoul, Sharosu-gil, Sillim Station, the Seocho and Gangnam sides of Gangnam Station, Nonhyeon Station and Apgujeong Rodeo Street in southern Seoul.

Between Oct. 27 and 28, when the crowds are expected to be the biggest, 10 police squad units and 620 police officers from 12 precincts will be deployed.

The police agency will use grading scales to evaluate the overcrowding risk according to the passageways’ slope and width.

The most alarming grade is when more than five people are in an area of one square meter (10.76 square feet). Police will employ different safety measures depending on the grade to disperse the population effectively and swiftly.

“Areas of high risk were decided upon several meetings and field inspections conducted with district offices,” an official from Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said.

“We plan to shoot a light on narrow alleyways and use the broadcasting system to secure enough space where people can move around and safely wait in line to get into nightclubs.”

“This year, [we] presume that people will go to Mapo and Gangnam area instead of Yongsan.”

The police will coordinate with district offices to address obstacles that could disrupt the free flow of crowds and traffic. The authority will also cooperate with Seoul Metro to manage the crowds at subway stations in critical areas.

Police's Special Operation Unit forces will be dispatched to major subway stations to prevent serious crimes and terrorist attacks.

BY LEE HAY-JUNE [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]