SEOUL — Following a massive Halloween weekend that drew a combined total of over 160,000 people to Seoul’s nightlife hotspots in Hongdae and Itaewon, Sunday morning revealed familiar remnants of the festivities: littered streets piled high with trash and pockets of intoxicated revelers. Despite the heavy crowds, authorities reported no major accidents or critical incidents, save for a few minor altercations among partygoers.

Morning After the Festivities

By 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, the Itaewon World Food Culture Street was noticeably quieter than the previous night, though lines outside select bars and clubs still lingered.

Despite chilly morning temperatures hovering around 8°C (approx. 46°F), some citizens could still be seen roaming the streets in Halloween costumes, ranging from clowns to ducks. Outside local convenience stores, several individuals struggled to maintain their balance due to heavy intoxication.

Law enforcement was briefly dispatched to break up a physical dispute between two men outside a local bar, but the situation was quickly contained.

According to Seoul’s Real-Time City Data system, the area around Itaewon Station was classified as "slightly crowded" at 6:30 a.m. As rain began to fall around 6:00 a.m., crowds thinned rapidly, dropping the density to an "uncongested" level of 5,000 to 5,500 people by 7:00 a.m.

At the peak of Saturday night's celebrations, crowd estimates reached approximately 130,000 in Hongdae and 33,000 in Itaewon.

High Demand for Hangover Cures and Convenience Goods

Local merchants felt the full impact of the overnight crowds. A convenience store clerk located in the alley behind the Hamilton Hotel reported selling an unmeasurable quantity of hangover relief drinks, noting a massive surge in foot traffic compared to a standard weekend.

As dawn broke, weary partygoers headed toward subway stations wrapped in heavy outerwear or scrambled to flag down taxis. With the onset of rain, individuals sought shelter under closed storefront awnings or inside doorways, while others rushed into convenience stores to purchase umbrellas and hangover remedies.

Clean-Up Crews Battle Trash and Rain

The aftermath of the celebrations left behind substantial amounts of litter strewn across the streets.

City sanitation workers began clearing the debris in the early morning amidst steady rain. Wet paper and lightweight trash stuck firmly to the pavement, making the cleanup process significantly more labor-intensive.

One sanitation worker, who began cleanup operations at 5:30 a.m., voiced frustration over the heavy littering, emphasizing the need for stricter enforcement and penalties against illegal dumping.

Authorities Report No Major Incidents

Despite heavy deployments of police and fire personnel across both districts, authorities confirmed that the night passed without any major safety disasters.

A brief scare occurred late Saturday night in Hongdae when a report was filed claiming a man wearing a mascot costume of a popular foreign language learning app was distributing "drug-laced candy." However, local police confirmed upon investigation that it was a false alarm resulting from a misunderstanding.

Both the Yongsan and Mapo Fire Stations verified that no significant safety accidents or emergency calls were recorded overnight.

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