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Prada's Seoul event canceled over safety concerns

Published: 25 Oct. 2024, 16:15 Updated: 25 Oct. 2024, 16:41

YOON SEUNG-JIN
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Girl group aespa member Karina and actor Byeon Woo-seok [NEWS1]

Italian luxury fashion house Prada's photo wall event in Seoul's Seongsu-dong was abruptly canceled on Thursday night due to safety concerns.

Prada's promotional event, "The Sound of Prada," which began at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, was halted at the request of the Seongdong District Office.

According to local media and related social media posts, the event site and surrounding areas had become dangerously overcrowded, leading to a minor traffic accident involving a bus and a car, which necessitated police intervention to manage the chaotic situation.

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Some eyewitnesses posted videos and pictures on social media platforms, including X and Instagram, depicting the scene. The visuals showed congested streets, a massive crowd and the event's lighting setup contributing to the chaos.

K-pop stars and actors were scheduled to attend the event, including Twice's Sana, aespa's Karina and actor Byeon Woo-seok.

An X post that shows the congested area around Prada's event site [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Due to growing concerns about potential safety hazards from the overcrowded conditions, Seongdong District Mayor Jeong Won-oh decided to request that the event organizers cancel the event.

“District officials had been closely monitoring the event site since Thursday evening, working with law enforcement and other relevant agencies to assess the situation,” Mayor Jeong said in his X post on Friday. “Due to the increasing risk of accidents and injuries, the district office requested that the event organizers voluntarily end the event out of concern for public safety.”

BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [[email protected]]