How a night of Halloween revelry turned to disaster in South Korea

Members of the police stand guard near the scene of a crowd crush that happened during Halloween festivities, in Seoul, South Korea, October 31, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

SEOUL (Reuters) - The Itaewon district in South Korea's capital is known to revelers as a place of fun, freedom and openness. But its narrow, steep streets and constrained access points proved a lethal mix for Halloween partygoers who became trapped in a crowd crush that left more than 150 people dead.

Dubbed "World Food Street" by tourism officials, the warren of alleyways and streets behind the red-brick bulk of the Hamilton Hotel is home to nightclubs, bars, and an eclectic variety of restaurants that reflects Itaewon's international heritage and draws young Koreans in ever-greater numbers.