Mourners continue to arrive in Seoul's popular Itaewon district one week after a crowd crush in a narrow alley killed 156 people during Halloween festivities.

A sidewalk near the site of the October 29 crush has been filled with flowers as people come to pay their respects to the victims. The mourners are also laying photographs, sweets and alcohol drinks.

One woman said she had lost one of her acquaintances in the crush and that she was happy that they had shared time together. She said she hopes the victim will rest in peace.

A memorial event took place in central Seoul on Saturday evening. Organizers say about 50,000 people took part.

The participants offered silent prayers and then sat in streets holding candles while they remembered the victims.

The official mourning period designated by the South Korean government ends on Saturday, but people around the country are still grieving.

The police response to the crowd crush has been described as inadequate. Police are facing scrutiny as an investigation into the cause of the crush continues.