SEOUL: Usually glitzy and buzzing in the holiday season, South Korea's popular Itaewon night-life district looks like a ghost town this year, as people still mourning 158 killed in a Halloween crowd crush go elsewhere for festivities.
Many Itaewon restaurants and stores have put up Christmas trees and ornaments, but back alleys that house the district's hottest nightclubs and bars and were the centre of the Oct. 29 crush are conspicuously quiet.
Where there would normally be hustle and bustle, notes and posters expressing condolence line the walls - remembering the victims, mostly aged 20 to 30, who had been among thousands who had flocked to Itaewon to enjoy the first virtually unrestricted Halloween parties in three years.
Another 196 were injured as the crowd pushed towards a central intersection.
"Itaewon used to be a place for Christmas parties, with lots of decorations on the street, but it has become very silent and sombre," local resident Lee Jun-hee told Reuters from the alleys.
Another resident, Kim Kyeong-nyeon, 65, said some businesses in Itaewon were trying to brighten the Christmas mood, but it felt too soon to her.
"People are still grieving. We might need more time," she said.
A manager of a local hamburger joint said his business still suffered from the disaster, as did other restaurants and bars nearby.
"Now we have very few customers coming, and the streets are silent," he said, asking not to be named. "It's not Christmas yet, but I guess Christmas won't be so different."
The finance ministry said on Friday that consumption at three major department stores had slowed last month. It identified the disaster as a factor behind that.
Many people are looking for other places to feel the Christmas spirit, such as the traditional tourist district of Myeongdong, where the Shinsegae and Lotte department stores have unveiled, as usual, their huge and vibrant festive displays.
To prevent accidents, police have set up barriers in viewing areas near the stores to control crowds. The Seoul city government now has a team to manage large assemblies of people.
"This constantly reminds of the tragedy," said Jeon Ye-hyang, 25, a local in Myeongdong, looking at the viewing areas. "That might mean that we won't be able to fully enjoy the Christmas atmosphere this year."
Reuters
Mon Dec 19 2022
Women mourn at the scene of a crowd crush that happened during Halloween festivities, in Seoul, South Korea, November 29, 2022. REUTERS/ Heo Ran/File Photo
Serangan Balai Polis Ulu Tiram: ABIM gesa rakyat bertenang, serah siasatan kepada PDRM
ABIM menggesa rakyat untuk bertenang dan menyerahkan sepenuhnya siasatan serta tindakan kepada PDRM serta pihak berkuasa berkaitan.
Jemaah Islamiyah masih berakar umbi?
Bersama Pertahanan, Keselamatan dan Kajian Strategik UPNM, Prof Dr Mohd Mizan Mohammad Aslam.
Serangan Balai Polis Ulu Tiram: Kawalan balai, kawasan profil tinggi dipertingkat - KPN
Kawalan keselamatan di balai polis dan kawasan yang melibatkan individu berprofil tinggi termasuk istana akan dipertingkatkan susulan kejadian serangan di Balai Polis Ulu Tiram awal pagi tadi.
Ambil serius luahan petugas kesihatan - Cuepacs
Cuepacs menggesa kerajaan supaya melakukan siasatan menyeluruh mengenai isu kekurangan doktor dan petugas kesihatan di beberapa hospital.
[LAPOR LANGSUNG] Serangan Balai Polis Ulu Tiram: Kawalan balai, kawasan profil tinggi dipertingkat
Dalam kejadian 2.45 pagi itu, tiga disahkan maut iaitu dua anggota polis dan suspek yang berusia lingkungan 30-an.
Agong zahir ucapan takziah kepada keluarga mangsa serangan Balai Polis Ulu Tiram
Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, menzahirkan rasa sedih dan merakamkan ucapan takziah kepada keluarga mangsa serangan Balai Polis Ulu Tiram, Johor.
'Sanusi bukan pengganas' - Peguam
Menurut peguam, Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud, Datuk Seri Sanusi merupakan seorang Menteri Besar Kedah, bukannya pengganas.
Balai Polis Ulu Tiram diserang: Dua polis maut, seorang cedera ditembak, ditetak
Bersama wakil Astro AWANI Johor, Siti Nur Aqiela Omar, untuk mendapatkan perkembangan terkini dari lokasi.
Presiden Kazakhstan nyatakan kesediaan tingkatkan interaksi, kerjasama dengan Malaysia
Presiden Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev menyatakan kesediaan negaranya untuk meningkatkan interaksi dan kerjasama dengan Malaysia semasa lawatan rasmi Perdana Menteri ke ibu negara Astana.
Reddit, OpenAI umum kerjasama, kandungan akan diintegrasikan dalam ChatGPT
Dalam pengumuman kerjasama ini, Reddit menjelaskan yang data-data dan kandungan merekan akan diintegrasikan ke dalam ChatGPT. Dengan
Korea Selatan, AS dan negara lain mulakan operasi 'Christmas Drop'
Australia, New Zealand dan Jepun turut mengambil bahagian dalam misi yang dijalankan hingga Jumaat.
Mariah Carey gagal miliki tanda dagang 'Ratu Krismas'
Permohonan Mariah Carey untuk mendapatkan tanda dagangan, "Ratu Krismas", "Puteri Krismas" dan "QOC," (singkatan untuk Ratu Krismas) telah ditolak oleh Pejabat Paten dan Tanda Dagangan AS.
Selepas 25 tahun, lagu 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' akhirnya ungguli carta Billboard
Lebih bermakna, lagu epik tersebut turut mengungguli carta Rolling Stones sepanjang minggu ini.
Tiga lebuhraya tawar diskaun 10 peratus sempena Krismas
Ia melibatkan lebuhraya Sungai Besi (BESRAYA), Lebuhraya Baru Pantai (NPE) dan Lebuhraya Kajang-Seremban (LEKAS, Plaza Tol Ampangan).