Halloween in Seoul 2026: Where to Go and How to Do It Safely

Halloween in Seoul changed after October 29, 2022. On that night, 159 people died (the official count) in a crowd crush in Itaewon's narrow alleys. This guide doesn't treat that as a footnote. It's the reason Seoul now runs Halloween weekend as a public-safety period, and the reason this page starts with where the crowds are, not with costumes.

Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026 (October 31). The busiest nights are likely Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31.

What has changed in Itaewon since 2022?

These are the details reported from October 24 to 25, 2025 (Korea JoongAng Daily, October 27, 2025).

• Patrols: The Seoul police mobile patrol unit began patrolling Itaewon at 6 p.m. on Friday. Officers checked CCTV and emergency bells and removed hazards such as loose bricks.
• Walkways: On World Food Street, where the 2022 crush happened, movable median barriers kept pedestrians moving one way, on the right.
• Subway: Police and subway staff guided people through Itaewon Station, and exit signs read, "Crowded areas can be dangerous."
• Mood: Music played from bars and lines formed outside clubs and convenience stores, but the report describes a restrained tone, with police lines, signs and barricades. Another report that night (Nocut News, October 25) said bars on World Food Street had no free seats.
• Staffing: Seoul police assigned 4,922 officers across the city from October 24 to November 2, 2025, the same level as the year before, with on-site command posts in eight priority areas including the Itaewon tourist zone.

According to the city's 2025 plan (Seoul Metropolitan Government, published October 24, 2025, updated January 7, 2026), safety staff in Itaewon spread out crowds. At the "caution" crowd level or above, entrances and exits are separated, and at "very crowded" the city considers letting trains pass the station without stopping. The city also used crowd-detection CCTV that counts people per area, and joint on-site command posts.

Note: Itaewon isn't closed. If you go on October 30 or 31, go early, expect barriers and one-way flow, and move when staff ask you to. That is the most important line in this guide.

About the memorial: The alley in front of Itaewon Station Exit 1, where the crush happened, is the Path of Memory and Safety (10·29 기억과 안전의 길), a memorial created in 2023 by the victims' families association and the Citizens' Response Committee. October 29, the anniversary, falls on a Thursday this year. Near it, we ask you to keep your voice down and to skip costume photos and videos. We couldn't confirm any visiting rules.

A Note From Daniel — our real human editor

It's a painful, sad story. A major tragedy happened here on Halloween night. I'd like to deny it, but it's true. The whole country was in deep grief. Since that day, the mood around Halloween has changed a lot. Before, people dressed up in costumes and held plenty of parties, but that isn't the atmosphere now, so keep that in mind if you visit Korea around Halloween.

Where else will the crowds be?

Last year the city listed 14 areas: Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu cafe street, Konkuk University's food street, Gangnam Station, Apgujeong Rodeo, Myeongdong, Ikseon-dong, Wangsimni Station, Sinchon Yonsei-ro, Balsan Station, Sillim Station, Sharosu-gil and Nonhyeon Station. Eight were priority zones: Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu, Konkuk University, Gangnam Station, Apgujeong, Myeongdong and Ikseon-dong.

For what each neighborhood is like at night, see Seoul nightlife by neighborhood and the hubs for Itaewon, Hongdae and Seongsu.

What can you do instead of a street party?

Neither park calls its event "Halloween." Both run autumn festivals that overlap with it. For a full comparison, see Seoul's theme parks compared.

Tip: For the drone show, the city recommends Jayang Station (Line 7) Exit 1; Exits 2 and 3 may be restricted. It suggests the Noyu or Jayang park entrances over the crowded Ttukseom entrance. Public Wi-Fi in the park is switched off from noon to 9:30 p.m. that day, so save your map first. For more on the river, see the Han River, the way Seoul uses it.

How do you move safely in a crowd?

1. Check before you go. Look for this year's notices from the city, Yongsan District and the police. The city's guidance says to check crowd-safety instructions before attending a large event.
2. Walk on the right and follow the guide fences. That's the city's own guidance.
3. Go early and leave early. In our read, the fullest hours are late at night, so make the early evening your main plan and treat late night as optional.
4. Pick a backup station. If Itaewon is very crowded, trains may pass it without stopping. Know the neighboring stations (Noksapyeong and Hangangjin), and check last-train times in what to do if you miss the last train and how to ride the Seoul subway.
5. Agree a meeting point and keep your phone charged in case your group gets separated.
6. Leave if it's too packed. Nothing on a Halloween night is worth staying in a crowd for.
7. If you need help: police 112, fire and ambulance 119. 1330 is the Korea Tourism Organization's travel helpline, not an emergency number; it supports English.

Soo's Tip

Make one early-evening plan, and make the late night optional. That one choice removes most of the risk, and you won't miss anything by skipping the peak.

Note: Safety measures and event schedules can change. The area-by-area measures here are from the city's 2025 announcement; check this year's official notices.