A South Korean court has sentenced three police officers to prison for their negligence in managing the deadly crowd crush during the 2022 Halloween festivities in Seoul's Itaewon district, which resulted in the deaths of 159 individuals, many of whom were young people. The court's decision marks the first convictions related to the authorities' failure to prevent or effectively respond to the dangerous overcrowding that occurred in the popular nightlife area. Despite these sentences, there has been significant criticism from bereaved families and opposition politicians regarding the lack of accountability for higher-ranking officials, who have not faced charges in connection with the disaster.