What Itaewon Is Like These Days 

Here's a link to Mama Kim's documentary mentioned in the video: bit.ly/3DpvnxA instagram.com/jyannalee/

I think people got so traumatized they couldn’t come back yet to Itaewon. Hopefully it’ll get better for everyone, victims’ families, those who got trauma from the incident and Itaewon establishments.

So sad to see Itaewon is still a ghost town, but it was cool to see diverse foods in Korea. It still looks like a fun place to visit.

Thank you for telling us about how Itaewon is doing these days. I'm sure it will come back slowly as healing happens. Thank you for the story of the Grand Ole Opry. I was born and raised in Texas, so seeing a slice of the country and western music side to America in Seoul is exciting. If I every make it to Seoul, Anna I will teach you to two-step, the country jitterbug, and the cotton-eye-joe. All traditional country western dances. 🤠🤠

This video is so important Anna. It shows the need for people to come support these businesses. The district leaders should try and host some small events to promote the businesses in Itaewon. It's such an unfortunate tragedy that occurred and people still feel deeply about what took place. But, just like after 9/11 in NYC, it took the mayor and City Hall to encourage people to come to lower Manhattan again. Businesses can't do it all by themselves.

Much respect to the lady who owned the bar! Thank you for taking us there.

I'm currently in Seoul. Itaewon has changed drastically since the Halloween thing. Hopefully was the weather warms up, it makes a return to how it was. The grand ole opery is my favorite bar there. Momma kim is a legend. Me and all my friends love her. We're American soldiers, and she always treats us with great respect. We love her stories. Long live momma kim and Itaewon!

I am so torn. I spent 6 weeks in Itaewon last summer and had the time of my life. I was also in Seoul when it happened and never went back before I left. I will be back in July and my heart kind of wants to go there just to support the business. They went through a hard time during COVID and technically it is not even their fault what happened in October. So I feel bad for them. I don't think I can walk the alley street again though. It's just too heartbreaking.

Thank you for posting this. I am sure the folks who run businesses in Itaewon are thankful to you too. It is really honoring those who died to go there because they went there to have fun and they would not want those who remain to give up the free and really loving/accepting atmosphere of Itaewon. God bless you and God bless those who died and their dear ones they left behind to continue their legacy…

I don't even drink or club and I enjoyed Itaewon. I feel like there's something for everyone, whether you're there to party, grab a meal or even just coffee. The vibe during the day is pretty nice as well and what I like about Itaewon is just the alleys and how the wider alleys branches into smaller alleys, creating a very distinct intersection, it's just very vibrant and kind of an eclectic experience. I think the cafes and eateries in Itaewon ought to recover faster. There's lots of hotels, cheap hostels in the area, and tourists gotta eat! Not to mention there's also a sizeable residential area in Itaewon. However, I think the nightlife is gonna take some time to recover. I think at the municipal level they can perhaps push for people to boost the nightlight sector faster, via incentives and what not, but on the ground, organically I think people will take some time to return. Thanks for doing this video! Appreciate the update on Itaewon, and I think one way or the other Itaewon will prevail. May not be in the same form it was before, but one way or the other it will pull through.

People will eventually return to Itaewon. It's really no one's fault for what happened, and especially not the businesses either. I hope this allows people to remember to be safe, careful, and considerate of one another when going to crowded places. I hope to visit Itaewon one day.

9:37 honestly makes you feel so sad for those who were there that night. If I were someone who experienced the itaewon crush😢I would be scared to go back to that alley and I could only imagine how people feel about going back there now since the incident itself has happened. It’s not going to be the same and I feel bad for those who were there that night who have to live near that of which such a tragedy took place. Or even now when tourists past through there or near there and see chrysanthemums, they’ll know or always remember what took place there. Rest In Paradise to the lives lost in the #itaewaoncrush 🕊️🕊️❤

Thank you for posting this Anna😊 it was good to hear the history of the place and see how they’re coping after the tragedy. Your vlogs hit different…it’s great that you cover a variety of subjects. I always enjoy them 😊

I am so happy to have stumbled upon your video. Thank you for going back to Itaewon and speaking on the history for those such as myself who may not have known much about it besides the Halloween accident. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to that wonderful woman speak her story towards the end, she seems like such a nice, compassionate, kind woman.

Yeah I was super sad when I visited there back in December to experience the nightlife and it was almost the same, but I totally understand the reason though. I hope it can make a comeback where people can enjoy Itaewon again.

This was super interesting! Thank you Anna! I hope that customers will eventually come back! The local businesses deserve a thriving business!

Another new series of Anna. Anna i think you must vlog this kinda video! It's so interesting to dig deep into Korea. Thank you for letting us know!

Thanks for showing us around. The one quick shot of the street, kind of made me chock up a bit. I am working on my plans to visit Korea, I am fascinated at how it was 60 years ago to what it is now.

Anna this was one of your best vlogs ever. So nostalgic. Good damn job.💯❤💯

As an American who’s never been to Itaewon but heard of the tragedy, my heart sank when you showed it. So many people lost their lives and it saddens me to even see the area, I can’t imagine what it is like for all of South Korea but I don’t think the people who did die here would want to be remembered as that and would want this place to thrive again. I can’t speak for the dead but I do know if I had passed there I wouldn’t want it to be viewed as something horrible even though something horrible happened there. People still go to the new tower that replaced the twin towers in NYC, people still go running even though the events of the Boston bombing happened.

I luv watching your channel and all the different topics and activities you do and sharing your world with us. Your accent is to die for!!!

So heartbreaking... I lived in gyeongridangil for several years and was in that area all the time and worked in Hannam-dong. Thanks for taking the time to make this video. Keeping those who lost loved ones in my prayers.

Great video Anna. Thank you for the update and the history lesson

Great that you keep us updated Anna!! ❤❤❤ Very informational and interesting. Enjoyed this a lot. 😍😍😍

Thank you for sharing. I was down the street from the Hamilton hotel at TP when everything went down. I noticed that the club started getting extremely crowded at one point & they weren’t letting people outside due to the situation. It was harrowing hearing the news in real time & it was anxiety inducing to go outside & walking past the many ambulances lined up for 2 blocks at 3am. My hostel roommate at the time said she accidentally walked past the bodies & she started crying. She couldn’t stop crying for days. I had people blowing up my phone the day after because I couldn’t answer at the time but I also made sure to contact people who I knew were out clubbing as well. I was trying to make sense of everything. It was very depressing & I avoided Itaewon for the last 2 weeks I was in Korea, I couldn’t even go to the vigil. Survivors guilt is something else. It’s sad to see it’s still empty. I wonder what it’s going to be like during the summer. I hope those businesses are able to thrive until then 😕.

Thank you, Anna! 😍I loved this video!👍🏼 it was so interesting and informative! 👏🏼🫶🏼

Thank you for sharing this video me and my cousin are looking forward to visiting S.Korea in April and will definitely visit the grand ol oprey bar! I love watching your videos and your recommendations are amazing! I can’t wait to visit Itewon it’s sad what happen but you are 100% right when you say people are resilient and it surely will come back to life as it was 😊

I'll definitely be visiting the Grand Ole Oprey when I'm there in March. Thank you for showing us how Iteawon is right now!

I was just thinking about this today and it’s sad how empty itaewon is I used to go all the time but I understood when you said it felt weird even looking at the street where the tragedy took place that’s how the GP must feel but hopefully the businesses will be able to survive and life will slowly come back to itaewon thank you for supporting the businesses!!

Very informative video 👍. Anna u must be feeling sad and happy being back to Itaewon. I am dreaming visiting S. Korea. Itaewon will be something I will visit with so much excitement.

Altho the energy of that place still seems very unsettling even through the phone screen, I think Itaewon is such a pretty place and has it's own charm, thank u for showing around Anna ❤️

Thank you for sharing the updated video of itawon.

I'm Korean and living in Seoul, South Korea. Itaewon is where I often go to eat or drink beer. Itaewon is a place where I can go in about 30 minutes by subway from where I live. Among the many stores in Itaewon, there are often pubs, Spanish restaurants, and kebab shops. Some Koreans are conscious of eating or drinking alone, but Itaewon is a favorite place because they don't have to look at it. On the day of the disaster, I finished shopping in Myeongdong, went to Itaewon, had a simple meal, and I was going to go home. I tried to go to the Spanish restaurant that I often went to, but it was also a crowded place in Itaewon. However, I thought of a lot of people because of the Halloween festival and went home right away. I saw the news the next morning and the news of the accident was being reported.

Thank you for showing me the Grand Ole Opry! I had always wondered if it was still open. It was my hang out in the 1980s!

I’ve never been to Korea so to hear how much Itaewon has changed and not in a positive way since Halloween is really a shame, but it is understandable. My deepest condolences to the victims and families of the lost lives. May they rest in peace and the loved ones receive the healing they deserve. Also bless the people who tried to help save others and may you get the healing you too also deserve. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who were impacted by this horrific tragedy (including the business owners). Anna, thank you for sacrificing yourself (being out in the cold) and filming what is happening in Itaewon is important and sharing this video with us. ❤❤❤

There's something very likable about your vibe, so I'm subscribing. Thanks for this interesting update!

Thanks Anna for making this video. We plan on traveling to S.Korea this year. Will definitely stop by that bar you recommended. That old lady seems cool. 🙏🙏💜💜💜

first time seeing your channel and loved this style of video! thanks! gonna check out your other ones now!

This was super informative thank you!

Thank you so much for making the trek out there, Anna. I hope Itaewon* recovers and goes back to the lively, happy time it once used to be. This was a really great vlog! I enjoyed watching the whole thing. You earned a new follower here 😊

Great video:) Anna always has a unique take on our fave topics:)

An excellent job, Anna. Thanks!!

Thanks Anna it was interesting. It's so sad to see so many empty places and the streets like empty of people. I was there in September 2022. I'm hoping the very best for Itaewon. Good job 👏 👍 👌 ✔️

I remember when Itaewon Freedom came out, its still one of my favorite Korean songs, I'll also make sure to check out the Grand Ole Opry whenever I go to Itaewon

Oh I have been to that bar few times ^^ thank you for the review dear Anna! I also think Itaewon will come back to life soon & I am praying that from now on everyone will be more careful when it comes to crazy crowded places …>

So educational, thank you. Subscribed!

ITAEWON !! RISE AGAIN!! Thank you so much for Video!!

Just got back in from there a little while ago! I like it over here. So much to do and so much to learn about. It’s a beautiful country.

loves it tysm for this!

Awsome to see it again. Last time I was there was in 2000. I was a regular at Just Blues in Itaewon. It was upstairs from the all that jazz club. Many times playing there and watching my friend Chae play and sing. Good times. Thanks for sharing.

this grandma is so cute! I would do everything to be able to hear her stories! It’s like my dream. opening an own bar too!

This video was very interesting! It was good to learn more about the history of Itaewon.

I loved seeing you go to Grand Ole Opry, my parents met there and just recently took me back to see it in October before the crowd crush incident. You can see our names above the door. Its sad to see that it isn't doing as well since the military moved but last time I was there it was pretty busy

I was in Seoul and Itaewon in October and flew home just one day before the tragedy happened and it is so sad to see it like this because it was so full of life. I feel it will be very hard to go see the place again but I hope businesses and life revive during the summer.

So sad!! Thank you for showing us. On the accident street, there was a business you filmed that has big Green letter. I remember seeing a foreigner climbed up during the incident. It is more of prevention that Korean gov should do from now on. I hope the business in Itaewon will get back their business.

Omg. I was there too during the Seollal weekend and days before and after and yes, it's almost empty these days... I saw a lot of people on the subway carrying flowers going to the memorial corner..

Anna I appreciate your videos so much!!! You are such a Classy Beautiful Human and the world can use more people like you sharing there POVs :) Thank you for what you do and God Bless I will keep praying for Itaewon

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I just found your channel because the RU-vid algorithm displayed this video on my page. Well then, I've subscribed because I love the feel and vibe of your video! I've never visited Korea but it's definitely on my travel plans (soon!). Thanks to my godson and his sister, they introduced me to KPop (Ha!) during the pandemic and as a result I started watching variety shows, movies, etc, and learning a bit of the Korean language. Keep making great videos and good luck with your channel Anna Lee!

This is so sad glad people are coming back!❤❤❤

I love Itaewon Freedom. Whenever it comes on my playlist I jam out!!!

I would be so happy to experience Itaewon in a quiet manner like this!

I went to south korea for holiday during 2014, and visited busan and seoul. In seoul, i stayed in a homestay in itaewon. Its sad to see the halloween tragedy last year in itaewon, given the fact that i had many good memory staying in itaewon homestay. Hope to see it back to glory, when i go to south korea for holiday next time :)

I hope it can comeback to how it was someday, I feel like that’s the only way we could honor all those lost lives, because they all went there to have a good time, and enjoy Itaewon’s spirit. Which will forever be there.

Thank you for this, Anna. I was wondering how things were in Itaewon after the tragedy. That lady sounds interesting. Great post.

Wow thank you for the update on Itaewon, Anna. It's very sad for the businesses there how empty it still is. I hope it will come back to life soon enough. But the fact that you felt so weird near the place of the crush I think that shows that the energy there needs a good cleansing. The energy of traumatic events can stay in a place where it happened. Someone should hire a skilled spiritual person to do a thorough energy cleansing of the area. That may hasten the revival of Itaewon nightlife.

Great video Anna ❤

Thank you for a great video. Also, you have a wonderful English accent.

Hi 👋 not sure how long ago you made this video. thanks, brought back memories when I was station there in the late 80s, lots have change.

For those people who lost their lives on Halloween tragedy we will never forget until those who were in charge of tragic incidents to happen until they are harm fullest we will never forget those who departed on Itaewon Halloween.

wow i am impress with all the history here... and would love to have you as my tourst guide...so cool video...thanks for sharing

If a house where a few people are killed is so called a haunted house, then I don't know what a narrow alley where a hundred or so people are killed in just a few metres is called. The mere sight of it gave me the creeps.

Ive been to the home hill recently and it was quite full. But usually it gets crowded after 1 am during Fridays and saturdays

I've been going to itaewon for at least 18yesrs and I've seen its growth. I've party into the morning for many years. So sad about the Halloween deaths.i hope people will return and have fun again. BUT SAFETY FIRST AND FUN SECOND.

Thanks for recommendation, Anna. I'll try to visit South Korea next year. The part where you said, "Itaewon is so hilly." I does remind me of Nagasaki, Japan. Nagasaki is a small hilly port city on west coast of Kyushu. Again, Thanks you, Anna.

I was a regular in Itaewon between 2011 to 2018. For me Itaewon peaked in 2015 and after that it became a shell of its former self. I had a lot of crazy nights there!

So sad! I hope the business’s don’t go under but I get why Itaweon is empty.. I would love to visit one day

I've heard tons about Itaewon being the coolest place for foreigners and good nightlife and such and even watched Itaewon Class but did not know that history of the prostitution and such! Very interesting. Thank you for sharing it's history!

i used to live in itaewon a few years before the incident. i live in the US now and haven't been back since the summer. I heard of the incident while living in the US and was so upset to hear as halloween night was my favorite part of living there. thank you for this video, i get to check up on itaewon again since the incident

Thanks for showing us around the tragedy is still too raw it will take a while before people start going back.

In the past year, I grew to love itaewon so much. I spent so much time with my friends and have so many great memories. But I was there the day of the crush. I was a few feet away from the crush when it happened. I saw so many things I never could have expected to see in a single night and I hate how I've come to feel about it. I want to visit so much, but I still hyperventilate at the thought of going. 😣

Grand Ole Opry feels like my kinda bar to hangout, just chill, no rowdy crowd..I can just sit and drink my cocktails in peace and enjoy the music and chat with the bartender or owner...

thanks for sharing, Anna.

I was in the main section of Itaewon on a Saturday night about a month ago. Don't recall seeing many lines for restaurants and bars but there were plenty of people and significant activity even after midnight when we left.

I am coming to Korea in June. I will definitely look this place up. She's my kind of person who has lots of stories and has lots of life experiences. I love me a good drink too. Itaewon is one of my favorite areas. I'm glad to see it up and running. I'm sure it will be busier in the summer 😅

Sending all may gratitude with this info, As currently studying Hangugeo, AND probably reach Korea tawo years from now.

I'm visiting this year and genuinely excited to go to the Grand Ole Opry.

The lady seems so nice 😭 I hope I get to visit that bar ❤️

You give us so much good information and that cafe looked really yummy thanks so much. I am just getting to know BTS, I usually follow other groups but I wanted to give them a chance too. I hope Itaewon comes back. Hope you had fun 😊

I'm from Hong Kong and the same tragic accident happened in my place 30yrs before. Really the same, "Lan Kwai Fong" a very narrow and sloping alley lined with bars just like Itaewon, 21 people were killed in that night. Moreover, crowd crushes lead to death is a thing that happens every few years all over the world, especially in developing countries. So I'm really shocked that South Korea, as a modern country, the government does not have the concept of "crowd control". Sad for the dead and injured, they didn't have to die if their government was serious about it.

I remember the “before days (even the alphabet was different)“ I grew up in Korea as an American kid. We were there 68’-74’ the war days. I was 7 years old when we got there and a teenager when we left. Itaewan was where the markets and bars were. There wasn’t a hooker or homo hill. There was the “ville” I remember dirt roads and amazing, loving, caring, kind generous and sometimes grumpy people. We never lived on base and the kids I played with didn’t often speak English…. We were always able to communicate. I’ll always feel Seoul is my hometown. Never mattered to any of us. My childhood was wonder and special. I’m old to many people but someday I hope to return. I don’t look Korean but I’ll always be part Korean. Blessing in you travels kiddo.

이태원에 대해 잘 알고 계시네요^^ 사건이후로 너무 슬플것 같아서 이태원에 가볼 생각도 안했지만 궁금하긴 했는데 근황 알려주셔서 감사합니다.

I go to itaewon every other weekend or so. I like itaewon more than hongdae, and more than gangnam, and all the other party spots. There is a certain magic, and nostalgia about itaewon. The Halloween thing is still burned into my mind, but I still love itaewon. I'm in the US military, and my time in Korea is coming to a close soon. I will deeply miss itaewon and all the Korean people that have treated me so well. The grand ole opry will always be my favorite bar. Even better than the ones back home.

Amazing videos about life in Korea.

I'd like to see more of Itaewon and those two hills.

I was also there during Halloween and haven’t gone back until recently near the end of January and it was so empty. I also saw that some places were like doing sale promotions at some restaurants and bars to try and bring people back into Itaewon, but I’m not good at Korean so me and my friends were trying to figure it out 😅

We have lots of party streets here in the US, like i've been on Bourbon street for mardi gras and I've been to 6th street and rainey a lot in austin tx which I can imagine are just as crowded and wild as Itaewon could get but I also can imagine if a similar tragedy happened on them, it would be just as...haunting to return. I hope the area heals and I do not blame anybody who was there that doesn't want to go back. Like you said, I bet the energy right now is too much for anyone even remotely in tune with it to handle. I hope that the people frequenting there before can find joy in other places. Cheers and thanks for your review! I will def visit when I can

Thank you so much for this video. It is really sad to learn about what had happened recently in Itaewon 😥 My partner and I are planning to visit South Korea in October 2023, and we are making a point of visiting Itaewon as well. It will be our very first time visiting so you can only imagine how excited we are. No matter what the weather will be like, we are going for sure.

This video made me want to sing the song itaewon freedom

This tragedy was happen on my birthday :(( very sad to see it become that empty. Feel bad for the business owners too :(

Thanks for bringing up UV and JYP Itaewon freedom. I feel sorry for what happened on Halloween tragedy which could have been prevented.