Itaewon tragedy: Vietnamese girl tells the reason for her rare escape, heartbroken when people find their relatives

The Itaewon tragedy has become an obsession for many people. Those who escaped the crowds that night felt so lucky. Among them, there are many people who avoid accidents for very rare reasons.

Sharing on Zing News, AT - a Vietnamese international student in Seoul said that on the evening of October 29, she planned to go to Itaewon to play because she knew there were many exciting activities. Although around 9:30 p.m. on the same day, she was craving Vietnamese pho, so she decided to "turn the car around" and not go to Itaewon as planned.

Instead, T. went to the neighborhood of Hongdae, although it was not as crowded as Itaewon. Half an hour later, she heard news of the jostling in Itaewon but didn't take it too seriously. Moreover, after eating pho, she went home and did not return to this neighborhood.

When she received a message from the teacher asking if it was safe, she found out and was shocked to find out. At this time, T. hurriedly texted two foreign friends because they knew they were present in the alley when the incident happened.

According to T., a friend of hers replied by voice message, her voice trembling as if she was crying, saying that she had seen the dead person. Fortunately, T.'s friends all escaped.

The young girl herself felt very scared, not daring to imagine what would happen if she got stuck in it. She said to herself, "As if pho has helped me. From now on, I won't go to Itaewon and limit going to such crowded places."

Earlier, the incident happened when crowds flocked to a small alley in Itaewon to attend the Halloween festival on the evening of October 29. Things became out of control because people jostled and jostled each other, resulting in more than 150 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

At the incident site, people brought white chrysanthemum flowers to all the streets to commemorate. In the gloomy, melancholy streets, inside the houses, people sobbed when they came to identify their brothers and sisters, their children. Many people can't even stay calm in the face of this overwhelming pain. Originally a bustling place, now Seoul, the capital of Korea, is unusually quiet, with a melancholy space covering everything.

There is no official conclusion from the authorities yet, but it is clear that the small streets of Itaewon area are unlikely to meet the large crowds that flock to Halloween.

4m wide, 45m . long

According to Korea JoongAng Daily, the alley is 4m wide, with the narrowest place only 3.2m, normally just enough for 4-5 adults standing in a horizontal row.

But on the day of the tragedy, the 45m-long alley was packed with people trying to get in and out, resulting in jostling from all directions. On one side of the alley is a long wall, the victims have almost nowhere to escape.

The famous Itaewon area

Although located in the heart of Seoul, Itaewon has for many years become known for a distinct culture, with a more open image with many foreigners and restaurants and bars serving tourists from all over the world.

"Itaewon is still a great place to be, especially when you're feeling homesick," said Maddy, a 26-year-old American student who has lived in South Korea since 2019.

"It's good to be able to speak and order in English. Many Korean-Americans and expats know well what people miss home for, so it's good to be able to go to a coffee shop or restaurant with food. really Western food. The longer I stay in Korea, the more I go to Itaewon," Maddy shared.

The modern history of Itaewon and its development began after the Korean War (1950-1953). Before that, Japanese forces in the colonial period (1910-1945) and then the US Armed Forces Command were stationed right next to Itaewon.

It was only in the 1960s that new housing estates sprang up and the number of Americans in the area steadily increased.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Itaewon developed into a strong commercial district and attracted by its bars, pubs and vibrant nightlife, met the needs of Americans in the area. However, crime is also high and the area is famous for being home to many "florists".

In 1973, the Hamilton Hotel opened in downtown Itaewon to help the area attract more visitors, along with Korea's first jazz club, All that Jazz.

"Foreign in the heart of Seoul"

The 1988 Olympics and the end of the Cold War marked the beginning of globalization in the Itaewon area.

The press then called Itaewon "a foreign country in the heart of Seoul", according to the Seoul Shinmun in 1977. This helped Itaewon attract more tourists and encouraged locals to see it as an attractive showcase in Korea. Country.

The Itaewon Merchants Association, along with the government and city government, promoted the development of Itaewon into a commercial and multicultural area, rather than just targeting American forces.

In the 2000s, the area's international population became more diverse with people from the Middle East and Africa. Cultural events are held regularly, such as the World Food Festival that was first introduced in 2002 during the World Cup.

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