South Korean families were left in tears as police officers were handed jail sentences in the first convictions related to Korea’s Halloween stampede. The former police chief of the Yongsan police station, Lee Im-jae, was sentenced to three years in prison for his failure to prevent the tragic 2022 Halloween crowd crush in Itaewon that resulted in the deaths of 159 people.
This marks the first time a senior police official in charge of safety in Itaewon has been convicted for the incident, which the Seoul Western District Court described as a “man-made disaster”. Two other former police officials received lesser sentences, one of whom was sentenced to two years in prison, while the third received a suspended two-year term. All three were found guilty of professional negligence leading to death.
The court stated that Lee had neglected to prepare for a large Halloween gathering and should have anticipated the potential risks, thereby creating the circumstances for the Itaewon tragedy. Family members of the victims were visibly distraught outside the court as they grieved the loss of their loved ones due to the devastating crowd crush.
The victims, mostly in their 20s and 30s, were attending Halloween celebrations when a massive crowd of over 100,000 people descended upon Itaewon, known for its vibrant nightlife. The situation quickly escalated as the crowd surged to unsafe levels, causing chaos and a crush that trapped hundreds of people. Witnesses described the scene as resembling “hell” as individuals fell on top of each other in a domino effect.
Following the tragedy, families demanded accountability from senior officials, including Interior Minister Lee Sang-min. However, a parliamentary attempt to impeach him was ultimately blocked by the constitutional court. The crowd crush, considered one of South Korea’s most significant peacetime disasters, led to widespread national mourning and grief.
While Lee was held responsible for failing to anticipate and prepare for the gathering, other district officials, including Park Hee-young, were acquitted. Prosecutors had sought seven-year prison sentences for both Park and Lee, but only Lee was convicted. The acquittal of Park and other ward officials sparked criticism from bereaved family members who questioned the court’s decision.
Despite the court’s ruling, the group representing families of the victims maintained that the tragic incident could have been prevented if the district office had taken appropriate measures to control the crowd. They expressed disappointment in the court’s conclusion and raised concerns about the judiciary system in the country.
In response to the incident, the Seoul metropolitan government implemented new measures to ensure a safe Halloween, including the installation of a new CCTV system to monitor crowd sizes. Earlier in the year, Seoul’s police chief, Kim Kwang-ho, was also charged with negligence relating to the crowd crush. The sentencing of the police officers marks a significant development in holding officials accountable for their roles in the tragic event.