South Korean Police Seek Criminal Charges Against 23 Officials for Deadly Halloween Crowd Surge

South Korean police are seeking criminal charges against 23 officials, including law enforcement officers, for a lack of safety measures they said was responsible for a Halloween crowd surge that killed nearly 160 people.

On October 31st, 2020, Seoul police had anticipated a weekend crowd of more than 100,000 in the capital’s nightlife district of Itaewon, yet had only assigned 137 officers to the area. These officers were primarily focused on monitoring narcotics use and violent crimes, leaving few resources for pedestrian safety.

The result of this lack of safety measures was a crowd surge that killed nearly 160 people, including at least two American college students. In response, South Korean police are now seeking charges of involuntary manslaughter and negligence against the 23 officials.

Experts have expressed concern over the lack of resources allocated to pedestrian safety, and the need for more comprehensive safety measures in the future.

The case is currently being investigated by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, and the 23 officials are expected to face criminal charges in the near future.