First Convictions in Seoul Halloween Disaster: Officers Guilty of Destroying Evidence

Three former police officers have been convicted for their roles in a cover-up following the 2022 Halloween crowd crush in Seoul, sparking calls for greater accountability.

Three former police officers were convicted in Seoul for destroying evidence related to the 2022 Halloween crowd crush, marking the first convictions over the disaster.
The convicted officers had deleted internal reports warning of safety risks ahead of the Halloween celebrations, where nearly 160 people were killed.
The Seoul Western District Court sentenced the former senior intelligence officer to 18 months in prison, while his subordinates received suspended sentences.
Victims' families and civic groups have criticized the South Korean government's response to the disaster, calling for greater accountability.
Experts have labeled the crush a 'man-made disaster' that could have been prevented with better planning and crowd control measures.