2 U.S. College Students Killed in South Korea Crowd Crush, Families Say They're 'Devastated' and 'Heartbroken'

Mar. 15, 2025

Gieske, ajunior studying nursingat the University of Kentucky, was in South Korea this semester as part of a study abroad program, the school said in a statement.

“I have the incredibly sad responsibility to inform you of theloss of one of our students over the weekend,” wrote school president Eli Capilouto. “The crowd apparently surged at some point into a crush of people. Details of what happened and why are still unfolding.”

“There aren’t adequate or appropriate words to describe the pain of a beautiful life cut short. It isn’t fair, nor is it comprehensible. It is loss and it hurts in ways that are impossible to articulate,” added Capilouto.

Anne Gieske and Steven Blesi.anne_in_seoul/Instagram, Courtesy of Steve Blesi

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Blesi, 20, was an international business major at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.

“Kennesaw State University officials were deeply saddened to learn that KSU student Steven Blesi was among the more than 150 people tragically killed in this weekend’s Halloween incident,” school officials wrote in a statement.

“On behalf of the entire Kennesaw State community,our thoughts and prayers go out to Steven’s family and friendsas they mourn this incomprehensible loss,” said Kennesaw State University President Kathy Schwaig. “We have been in contact with Steven’s family and have offered all available resources of the University to them.”

“We are heartbroken,” his father, Steve Blesi, tells PEOPLE. “The world’s a darker place without him in it.”

Over the weekend, the student texted to tell his dad he was going out with some friends.

“I texted him through What’s App the night of this and he told me he was going to be out with friends because they had finished midterms,” his father says. “I told him, “Okay, I know you’re out and about, but be safe and I love you.”

After learning about what had happened in Seoul, the family tried to contact their son as well as government officials, according toThe New York Times. Finally, hours later, they received a call from the U.S. Embassy in South Korea.“When they said, ‘Are you sitting down?’ I knew the next words that were coming outta their mouth was that our son had died,” he tells PEOPLE. “I can’t imagine the pain he went through.”

RELATED VIDEO: At Least 120 People Killed and More Than 100 Injured in South Korea During Halloween Event

Over the weekend, at least 153 people were killed and 103 were injuredwhen a crowd surgeoccurred in a narrow alley in Itaewon, an area in Seoul, according toNBC News. A crowd surge happens whenlarge numbers of people rush forward in the same direction.

According to the outlet, the popular nightlife spot was reportedlyswarmed with 100,000 residentsthere to enjoy festivities at the first large Halloween gathering since the pandemic.

In a national address, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called it “a disaster that should never happen,” and ordered an emergency review into what happened, per NBC News.

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PresidentJoe Bidenalso shared his condolences over the deaths of the two students.

“Jill and I are devastated to learn that at least two Americans are among so many who lost their lives in Seoul,” hewrotein a statement. “Our hearts go out to their loved ones in this time of grief, and we continue to pray for the recovery of all who were injured.”

Photos of Steven Blesi and Anne Gieske put up at the scene in Seoul.JEON HEON-KYUN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The police “should have been better prepared,” he told NBC News.

Blesi was one of 11 students studying abroad in South Korea, according to officials at Kennesaw State University, which reported that all other students had been reported safe.

The University of Kentucky said they had two other students and a faculty member who were abroad for the semester, according to president Capilouto, who said all “have been contacted and are safe.”

source: people.com