Large numbers of police were deployed Friday to Itaewon, Gangnam Station, Hongdae and Seongsu-dong — areas expected to draw heavy crowds on the eve of Halloween.
Gangnam-gu also conducted a special joint inspection that day around Gangnam Station and the Apgujeong Rodeo district, where large crowds were anticipated.
About 150 people took part in the inspection, representing Gangnam-gu, police and fire department units, Seoul Metro, Korail, Shinbundang Line Co., the Seoul Facilities Corporation, and volunteer disaster-prevention and neighborhood-watch groups.
Before the inspection began, participating agencies held an on-site briefing to coordinate patrol routes and key checkpoints. Teams then walked the areas expected to see the densest crowds, looking for potential hazards and safety risks.
The district carried out a first round of joint public-private-police inspections on Oct. 23 and 24, with the second round running Friday and Saturday.
"Safety is proven not by visible achievements but by nothing going wrong," Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki said. "Checking and verifying one more time is what protects citizens' ordinary, happy days — and we will carry out our responsibilities to the end."
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