Seoul Halloween Crush: Charges Filed Against Police Chief in South Korea

The head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Kim Kwang-ho, is facing charges of negligence over a year after a Halloween stampede claimed the lives of 159 individuals in South Korea. This marks a significant development, as Kim is the highest-ranking police official to be implicated in connection with the tragic incident that occurred in Itaewon, central Seoul, on October 29, 2022.

The charges against Kim allege that he failed in ensuring an adequate police presence in Itaewon that night when more than 100,000 people had congregated in the area. While some relatives of the victims have expressed relief at the charges, they also criticize the delayed action, insisting that the police chief should immediately step down and face trial.On the night of the incident, Kim was off duty and at home, while authorities claim that only 137 officers were deployed on the ground in Itaewon. This number was insufficient considering the overwhelming crowd, predominantly composed of young individuals, in the narrow alleyways of the Itaewon entertainment district.The first signs of trouble emerged around 18:30 local time, several hours before the fatal crush occurred. A report released in January 2023 highlighted the weak planning and poor emergency response by local municipal and emergency service officials. It revealed a lack of preventive measures, inadequate response post-emergency calls, incorrect assessments of the situation, delayed information relay, and a lack of cooperation among organizations.In response to the charges, a group representing the families of the deceased accused Kim of being fully aware of the potential danger to the public and neglecting the Itaewon tragedy. The statement emphasized Kim’s breach of his duty of care by failing to exercise his authority properly in deploying police. The group called for severe punishment for Kim’s actions.