Remembering Lee Ji-han, the star caught in Seoul’s Halloween stampede: the 24-year-old was a budding K-drama and K-pop idol filming a new series before he tragically died in the Itaewon crowd crush

Nov 1, 2022

Korean celebrity Lee Ji-han was among the 154 people who tragically died during Itaewon’s Halloween stampede incident on October 29. Photos: Kyodo, Mnet

Over 150 young partygoers died after a crowd crush in the popular Seoul nightlife district on October 29 – sadly a far cry from the iconic Halloween celebration scene in Itaewon Class

Victim Lee Ji-han was a budding celebrity who made his start in Mnet’s audition show Produce 101; stars from Psy and G-Dragon to Enhypen expressed their condolences for the accident

Remember when Park Sae-ro-yi found his first love Oh Soo-ah dancing and partying in a Halloween costume on the streets of Itaewon in the hit Korean series Itaewon Class? That scene – the fun and games, music and entertainment, cool costumes, diverse crowd and hip, young energy – was supposed to be what comes to mind when picturing Halloween in the happening Seoul neighbourhood.

Emergency services treat injured people after a stampede on October 30, in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: Getty Images

And yet October 29, 2022 – the Saturday of this year’s Halloween weekend – in Itaewon will instead become known as a historical tragedy after at least 154 young partygoers died from being caught in a crowd crush while celebrating. Most of them were reportedly in their twenties.