Seoul subway ridership surges during Halloween weekend

Subway ridership at 11 major stations in Seoul increased significantly during the Halloween weekend of October 30 and 31. According to Seoul Metro, a total of 697,844 passengers used these stations between 6:00 PM and midnight, representing a 17.5% increase compared to the previous week.

The highest concentration of passengers occurred on Saturday, October 31, with 356,364 riders, a 32.5% increase from the previous week. Hongik University Station recorded the highest volume with 94,040 passengers on Saturday. Itaewon Station saw a dramatic surge, with 38,953 passengers, approximately 2.4 times the amount recorded the previous Saturday.

To manage the crowds, Seoul authorities implemented special safety measures, including deploying over 3,000 personnel and utilizing 361 CCTV cameras for real-time monitoring. In Itaewon, vehicle traffic was restricted, and Seoul Metro skipped four train arrivals at Itaewon Station late Saturday night to manage congestion. Authorities also advised citizens to use nearby Noksapyeong or Hangangjin stations to avoid overcrowding at Itaewon.