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Reuters
Reuters
Entertainment
By Ju-min Park, Hyonhee Shin and Soo-hyang Choi

Seoul crush hits storied Itaewon nightlife district on verge of renewal

A person pays tribute near the scene of the stampede during Halloween festivities, in Seoul, South Korea, October 30, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-ji

With "Hooker Hill" and snaking alleyways of bars with signs like "BADASS" around the local landmark Hamilton Hotel, Seoul's Itaewon district was a symbol of freewheeling nightlife in the South Korean capital for decades, before tragedy struck.

The crush of partygoers on Saturday night that killed 153 mostly young people could hamper the revival of an area that was just starting to thrive after more than two years of COVID-19 restrictions, as trendy restaurants and shops replaced seedy establishments.

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