Halloween Fever Grips Cities Across South Korea
Halloween Fever Grips Cities Across South Korea
Halloween celebrations are in full swing across South Korea. Particularly among younger generations, a variety of Halloween events and gatherings are taking place, and citizens in unique costumes can easily be spotted on the streets. Major districts like Itaewon, Hongdae, and Gangnam are packed with people eager to soak up the Halloween atmosphere. Shops and clubs are welcoming guests with Halloween-themed decorations and special menus. This year marks the first Halloween since the lifting of social distancing restrictions, seemingly unleashing a pent-up desire for festivities. A range of Halloween events are also prepared for families, with amusement parks and theme parks hosting Halloween-themed parades and events. Furthermore, hotels and restaurants are offering Halloween special buffets and dinners, attracting those looking to commemorate the special day. To ensure a safe Halloween, police and fire authorities are strengthening safety management and patrols, particularly in densely populated areas, and urging citizens to abide by safety rules.
South Korean Prime Minister Lee Jae-myung has ordered strengthened safety measures for Halloween. Lee emphasized that "relevant ministries must cooperate closely and do their best to prevent accidents so that the public can enjoy the Halloween festival safely." He specifically ordered thorough safety inspections of areas with large crowds and preparations to respond quickly in the event of an emergency. Furthermore, Lee instructed that while young people enjoying Halloween is positive, promotional activities should be strengthened so that people do not lose sight of safety issues. During the Halloween period, the government is promoting safety management measures in cooperation with related agencies such as the police, fire department, and local governments, and is urging citizens to voluntarily comply with safety rules. In addition, the government recommends compliance with quarantine rules during the Halloween period to prevent the resurgence of COVID-19, and emphasizes thorough personal hygiene management such as wearing masks and washing hands.
The appearance of citizens enjoying the Halloween festival varies greatly. Citizens dressed as movie characters, cartoon characters, celebrities, and more are taking pictures on the streets and having fun dancing together. In particular, many unique costume contests are being held this year, and citizen participation is even more active. In Itaewon, many foreign tourists are also visiting, adding to the Halloween festival fever. The sight of people of various nationalities mingling and enjoying the festival creates an international festival atmosphere. Younger generations are sharing Halloween-related information through social media, sharing costume ideas together, and actively participating in festival preparations. In addition, sales of Halloween-related products are also rapidly increasing, with costume supplies, Halloween costumes, and Halloween-themed foods being particularly popular. The distribution industry is stimulating consumer purchasing desires by holding various discount events and promotions for Halloween, and Halloween has established itself as a new peak season for the distribution industry.
On the other hand, concerns about the Halloween festival are also being raised. Excessive drinking, noise problems, and waste problems are pointed out as negative aspects of the Halloween festival. In particular, in some areas, residents are inconvenienced by noise late at night, and in many cases, garbage is left unattended on the streets after the festival, which is pointed out as a problem. In addition, some citizens feel uncomfortable due to excessive revealing outfits or disgusting costumes. In order to solve these problems, some local governments are conducting special crackdowns during the Halloween festival period and are urging citizens to demonstrate mature citizenship. In addition, environmental groups are raising awareness of the waste problem that occurs after the Halloween festival and are conducting campaigns to encourage recycling. It is pointed out that in order for the Halloween festival to become a healthy and enjoyable festival, voluntary efforts by citizens are needed, as well as active support from the government and local governments.
Halloween has now become a cultural phenomenon in South Korea, beyond a simple Western festival. As the culture of enjoying Halloween spreads, especially among younger generations, Halloween is developing into a festival that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The Halloween festival is not just about dressing up and having fun, but also has the meaning of expressing creative ideas and communicating and interacting with each other. In addition, Halloween has a great impact on the distribution industry, and sales of Halloween-related products are increasing every year. In order for the Halloween festival to continue to develop into a healthy and enjoyable festival, voluntary participation by citizens is needed, as well as active support from the government and local governments, and there are still issues that need to be resolved, such as safety issues and environmental issues. It is hoped that Halloween will contribute to enriching the diversity of Korean culture and promoting communication and harmony among members of society.
