SEOUL — Usually glitzy and buzzing in the holiday season, South Korea's popular Itaewon night-life district looks like a ghost town this year, as people still mourning 158 killed in a Halloween crowd crush go elsewhere for festivities.

Many Itaewon restaurants and stores have put up Christmas trees and ornaments, but back alleys that house the district's hottest nightclubs and bars and were the centre of the Oct. 29 crush are conspicuously quiet.

A man walks on an empty street of Itaewon near where the deadly Halloween crush that killed more than 150 in Oct happened, in Seoul, South Korea, Dec 18, 2022. (KIM HON-JI / REUTERS)

Many people are looking for other places to feel the Christmas spirit, such as the traditional tourist district of Myeongdong

Where there would normally be hustle and bustle, notes and posters expressing condolence line the walls - remembering the victims, mostly aged 20 to 30, who had been among thousands who had flocked to Itaewon to enjoy the first virtually unrestricted Halloween parties in three years.

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Another 196 were injured as the crowd pushed towards a central intersection.

"Itaewon used to be a place for Christmas parties, with lots of decorations on the street, but it has become very silent and sombre," local resident Lee Jun-hee told Reuters from the alleys.

Another resident, Kim Kyeong-nyeon, 65, said some businesses in Itaewon were trying to brighten the Christmas mood, but it felt too soon to her.

"People are still grieving. We might need more time," she said.

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A manager of a local hamburger joint said his business still suffered from the disaster, as did other restaurants and bars nearby.

A woman reads condolences messages attached to the wall of a narrow alley of Itaewon where the deadly Halloween crush that killed more than 150 in Oct happened, in Seoul, South Korea, Dec 18, 2022. (KIM HONG-JI / REUTERS)

"Now we have very few customers coming, and the streets are silent," he said, asking not to be named. "It's not Christmas yet, but I guess Christmas won't be so different."

The finance ministry said on Friday that consumption at three major department stores had slowed last month. It identified the disaster as a factor behind that.

Many people are looking for other places to feel the Christmas spirit, such as the traditional tourist district of Myeongdong, where the Shinsegae and Lotte department stores have unveiled, as usual, their huge and vibrant festive displays.

Nam In-seok, owner of a clothing shop situated at the site where the deadly Halloween crush that killed more than 150 in Oct happened, waits for a customer, as condolences messages attached to the wall of the narrow alley are seen, in Seoul, South Korea, Dec 18, 2022. (KIM HONG-JI / REUTERS)

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To prevent accidents, police have set up barriers in viewing areas near the stores to control crowds. The Seoul city government now has a team to manage large assemblies of people.

"This constantly reminds of the tragedy," said Jeon Ye-hyang, 25, a local in Myeongdong, looking at the viewing areas. "That might mean that we won't be able to fully enjoy the Christmas atmosphere this year."