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Halloween

South Korea jails ex-police chief over deadly Halloween crush that killed 159

Two other police officers were also convicted of professional negligence resulting in the deaths of victims mostly in their 20s and 30s.

Two other police officers were also convicted of professional negligence resulting in the deaths of victims mostly in their 20s and 30s

1 Oct 2024 - 11:13AMvideocam

‘Cold-blooded’ Yoon slammed for blocking South Korea’s Halloween stampede probe

30 Jan 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

6 of Zoë Kravitz and Channing Tatum’s best ever couple fashion looks

3 Nov 2023 - 1:00AM

Shanghai Halloween becomes online hit

2 Nov 2023 - 7:30PM

02:00

Fear factor: 24 must-see celebrity Halloween costumes in 2023

From A-listers Paris Hilton, Demi Lovato and Kate Beckinsale to the Selling Sunset cast and Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio, celebrities turned up the heat with their daring costumes

31 Oct 2023 - 7:00PM

The real Dracula: an Austrian castle tells the story of Vlad the Impaler

Vlad the Impaler, known as Dracula, inspired the vampire in Bram Stoker’s novel. Vlad was no ghoulish fiend, though, for all his cruelty, as curators at his family’s castle in Austria emphasise.

31 Oct 2023 - 11:15AM

‘Apologise! Apologise’: South Korea Halloween crush families call for probe

Bereaved relatives visited the scene of the tragedy that killed 159 people a year ago and demanded President Yoon Suk Yeol apologies properly and launch a special probe.

29 Oct 2023 - 8:32PMvideocam

Family members of victims mark the first anniversary of the Halloween crowd surge that killed 159 people in a Seoul alleyway. Photo: AP

Seoul sees quiet Halloween weekend a year after Itaewon crowd crush kills 159

28 Oct 2023 - 8:11PMvideocam

The Thai cafe taking Halloween to the next level

27 Oct 2023 - 10:45PM

Ghosts, spirits, possession – 5 scary Asian destinations as Halloween nears

A giant snake in a bat cave in Bali. The ghost of Oiwa, a vengeful wife who haunts a shrine in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Ahead of Halloween we survey five of Asia’s most haunted destinations.

26 Oct 2023 - 9:42AM

Bats hang from the ceiling of Goa Lawah Bat Cave Temple in Bali, Indonesia. Photo: Shutterstock

Seoul tests crowd safety plan ahead of Halloween crush anniversary

The exercise comes after a crowd surge last year led to a crush in a narrow alley in the Itaewon nightlife district, killing 159 people in a disaster blamed on a lack of preparation

26 Oct 2023 - 9:08AMvideocam

People take part in a drill, conducted by the police to demonstrate how to operate a crowd alert sensor system to control and reduce crowd surges. Photo: EPA-EFE

3 Halloween 2023 running events in Hong Kong, for exercise and spooky fun

Run as little as 400 metres or as much as 8 kilometres in Halloween fancy dress in Hong Kong for the chance to win a gift.

26 Oct 2023 - 10:41AM

My Take | This Halloween, why create more horror in a world already full of it?

Businesses cash in on holiday by promoting scary movies, costumes and other commodities as a quarter of humanity suffers in conflict zones, but celebrations could make statement against terror instead of encouraging people to become desensitised.

24 Oct 2023 - 8:40PMvideocam

Meet Hollywood’s most Halloween-crazy stars, from Kylie Jenner to Heidi Klum

Halloween is just around the corner, so which Hollywood celebrities take spooky dressing to the next level? Here’s who we’re keeping an eye on this October

24 Oct 2023 - 9:00AM

Hollywood celebs Heidi Klum, Vanessa Hudgens and Kylie Jenner go all out for Halloween – and we’re here for it. Photos: AP; @vanessahudgens, @kyliejenner/Instagram

‘Indescribable sadness’: South Korean crush victims’ families seek justice

The ruling party has objected to a bill, which has been in limbo in parliament for months, that calls for an independent investigation into the disaster on Halloween last year.

24 Oct 2023 - 2:07PMvideocam

Photo shows an altar for the victims of the Halloween crowd crush near its site in Seoul’s Itaewon area on Dec. 29, 2022, two months after the incident that claimed 158 lives. (Kyodo)
==Kyodo

2023 Halloween nail art trends and designs? ‘Don’t be afraid to get weird’

Going out for Halloween this year? Your costume may be ready, but your nails might not be – two Hong Kong nail parlour founders reveal the spooky nail art trends this year.

23 Oct 2023 - 6:15PM

Spooky season! 10 times Asian stars won Halloween with iconic costumes

From Blackpink’s Lisa to Sonam Kapoor’s take on Wednesday Addams before Jenna Ortega nabbed the Netflix role, here are our favourite Halloween costumes donned by Asian celebs over the years

21 Oct 2023 - 10:00AM

Halloween 2023 in Hong Kong: best-dressed dog event, Vampire Ball and more

A Vampire Ball, a drag brunch, a Doggy Halloween best-dressed party, an Addams Family night – in Hong Kong, themed parties for Halloween 2023 run the gamut, while family events include pumpkin carving.

20 Oct 2023 - 6:15PM

Doggy Halloween will be held at Central wine bar Stazione Novella on October 29 from 11am-2pm. Photo: Stazione Novella

Destinations known | What’s the point of government’s tacky Hallo Hong Kong Halloween campaign?

The fact that anyone believes the tourist board’s 2023 Hallo Hong Kong Halloween campaign enhances the city’s reputation as a holiday hotspot sends shivers down our spine.

19 Oct 2023 - 5:45PM

Forget vampires or witches – get ready for a Barbiecore Halloween this month

Spooky Halloween looks aren’t going anywhere yet, but Barbiecore is set to rule the holiday this year too – here’s what we know about the costumes to come

16 Oct 2023 - 8:00AM

South Korean minister ousted over horrific Halloween deaths is not responsible, court says

Court overturns impeachment of Lee Sang-min for the tragic incident that killed 160 people last October in Seoul, saying botched response was due to broader failures, while critics claim police were lenient on members of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government.

25 Jul 2023 - 7:42PMvideocam

Mourners paying tribute at a makeshift memorial for the victims of the deadly Halloween crowd surge in October last year. Photo: AFP

‘There is a huge pressure’: the toxic cocktail of issues in suicide hot spot

In South Korea, where the pressure to succeed is intense and loneliness on the rise, the suicide rate is the highest among developed nations. Two recent disasters laid bare mental-healthcare shortcomings.

20 May 2023 - 11:15AM

A Halloween crush victim’s mother hugs his clothes. The 2022 tragedy exposed South Korea’s mental healthcare shortcomings. Photo: AFP

Families of Seoul Halloween crush victims face online abuse

19 Apr 2023 - 6:00PM

Families of South Korea’s crowd-crush victims face ‘unspeakable’ online abuse

Internet trolls have latched onto outlandish conspiracies claiming the crush that killed more than 150 people in October was caused by vegetable oil or drugs.

10 Apr 2023 - 12:19PMvideocam

South Korea votes to impeach minister over Halloween crush

Motion was passed by a 179-109 margin; opposition parties had pushed to expel Lee Sang-min, urging him to bear responsibility for botched responses.

8 Feb 2023 - 5:51PM

South Korea’s opposition-controlled parliament voted to impeach Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety. Photo: AP

Grief turns to rage as families seek justice for victims of Seoul crowd crush

30 Nov 2022 - 5:05PM

03:54

Bereaved families of Seoul’s Halloween tragedy to sue government

The families of the 156 who died in the tragedy are to take part in the collective lawsuit against central and local governments.

11 Nov 2022 - 5:59PMvideocam

Most Seoul Halloween crush victims were women

South Korea’s Halloween tragedy reveals women may be more vulnerable in crowd disasters.

7 Nov 2022 - 3:15PM

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Halloween

Halloween, also known as All Hallows' Eve, is an annual festival that takes place around the world on October 31, the eve of the Christian feast of All Hallows. It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In recent times the festival is celebrated with activities including dressing up in spooky costumes, trick-or-treating, apple bobbing, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns and lighting bonfires.

last updated:

9 September, 2024