The streets of Itaewon have gone through several iterations over the years — not just the place itself but the meaning attached to it. If you ask someone from the early 2000s or even the 2010s, they would paint a completely different landscape from the Itaewon that exists today. Itaewon is going through a period of social reconstruction, fueled by several factors — the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 Halloween crowd crush, U.S. military redeployment out of nearby Yongsan Garrison, commercial redevelopment and, the hot issue at the moment, the tightened restrictions placed on Itaewon businesses. Lasting impact Despite the heavy political atmosphere that lays over Itaewon like dark clouds before a storm, there are some local business owners who feel optimistic about its future. Linus Kim, who has operated Linus BBQ for more than a decade, expects the Halloween nightlife to be stronger than in the years immediately after the crowd crush tragedy. “Itaewon’s nightlife has seen a significant resurgence over the past year, driven partly by a new generation that came of age during COVID and
4 years on, Itaewon businesses face Halloween with mixed expectations
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