Amid the public's mourning following the tragic stampede in Seoul, K-drama "Itaewon Class" starring Park Seo Joon is being mentioned.
Based on the popular webtoon of the same name, the 2020 series gained massive attention as it not only featured romance but also various topics while showing the hustle and bustle of life in Itaewon.
Due to the K-drama's popularity, it was remade into a Japanese version titled "Roppongi Class."
However, the romance K-drama once again made headlines after being connected to the Itaewon stampede, where hundreds of victims died.
Why is Park Seo Joon's K-drama 'Itaewon Class' Being Connected to the Stampede?
According to an outlet, the majority of the tourists and partygoers wanted to visit Itaewon after watching the K-drama.
That is because they wanted to experience the celebration of Halloween in the city as seen in one of the episodes of "Itaewon Class."
The said scene appeared in the second episode where Park Seo Joon's character Park Sae Ro Yi was reunited with his friend Oh Soo Ah, played by Kwon Nara in the streets of Itaewon during Halloween, where it featured a massive crowd celebrating the festivity.
In the same report, a Japanese media also pointed out that the public was excited to experience the scene featured in "Itaewon Class" "after regulation finally relaxed after years."
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Itaewon Class' Japanese Remake Receives Disappointment From Viewers - Here's Why
However, a magical moment in K-drama became a disastrous moment in reality causing hundreds of deaths.
According to an outlet, about 154 people and over 80 people were injured with the majority of the victims being in their 20s.
In the report, survivors recalled the experience saying "they were trapped for over an hour and looked "like dominoes" while waiting for the rescue.
What Really Happened During the Itaewon Stampede?
What appears to be a fun-filled Saturday night of October 29 killed hundreds of partygoers as they joined the street party in Itaewon, known as one of the most popular neighborhoods in Seoul, for its nightlife and trendy restaurants.
However, at 10.20 pm, a stampede began crushing people in the narrow, sloping alleyways near Hamilton Hotel.
In the report, some witnesses claimed that the scene "was at least more than 10 times more crowded than usual."
The horror began when the clock struck around 10 pm after people were being crushed and there was a stampede in the said area.
Unfortunately, among the victims at the Itaewon stampede is the "Producer 101" season 2 contestant Lee Jihan, who is also about to star in an upcoming MBC K-drama.
With this, several Korean celebrities sent their condolences amid the tragic incident.
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South Korean Celebrities Mourns the Itaewon Tragedy
Soccer superstar Son Heung Min took to social media to express his condolences.
With a black-and-white photo, he said that his thoughts are with his fellow Koreans and was "heartbroken" about the news.
"I want you to all know I am thinking of you and sending all of my strength from here," he wrote on his Instagram.
The same goes for "Under the Queen's Umbrella" stars Kim Hye Soo and Bae In Hyuk who also joined the public mourning the passing of the victims.
