Live Updates: Seoul Halloween crowd crush in Itaewon kills at least 153

Itaewon, a hub for foreigners long known for its proximity to a major U.S. military base — and now identified with Seoul’s deadly Halloween crowd crush — has long occupied a distinctive place in the South Korean capital’s history.

Yongsan was occupied by the Japanese and then Americans. The United States occupied the Yongsan base after World War II and began leaving in 2017, largely seen as finally returning the land back to Korea, although many issues are still in dispute.

As recently as the 1990s and early 2000s, the neighborhood was known for knockoff designer goods and as a red light district largely supported by U.S. troops. But in the years since, it has reinvented itself as a nightlife hub. It caters to a large contingent of foreigners and expats, reflecting global influences and values. It is the most international district of Seoul, with hip lounges, bars and cafes modeled after venues in the United States, Europe and Russia.