"No Funeral Expenses, Can't Return Home" ... Lee Young-ae and Citizens Help Itaewon Russian Victims

After the story became known, the Russian consulate also prepared measures for document procedures and costs
The deceased's mother completed funeral preparations locally

Actress Lee Young-ae announced that she will help cover the funeral transportation costs for the Russian victim who died in the Itaewon tragedy. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] It has been reported that the father of Yuliana Park (25), a Russian who died in the Itaewon tragedy, is struggling because he cannot afford the cost of transporting the body. Following this news, several citizens, including actress Lee Young-ae, expressed their willingness to help. As this news spread, the Russian consulate actively took measures, and fortunately, the body was able to be returned to her hometown in Russia.

Park Artur, a third-generation Korean-Russian and Yuliana’s father, appealed to the media on the 2nd, saying that he needs $5,000 (about 7.09 million KRW) to transport his daughter’s body to Russia but has no way to raise the funds. The ferry departing from Donghae Port in Donghae City, Gangwon Province, to Vladivostok, Russia, is scheduled for the 4th, but if missed, he would have to wait a week.

In response to this situation, actress Lee Young-ae reportedly conveyed her intention through the Korea Disabled Welfare Foundation on the same day, saying, "I want to support Yuliana and her family, who cannot return to their homeland due to financial difficulties." Lee serves as the chairperson of the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee at the Korea Disabled Welfare Foundation.

The warmth of citizens continued. A citizen who introduced herself as a "40-year-old housewife raising two daughters near Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu," left her phone number, saying, "I don’t know if this will help, but I can lend 10 million KRW to the father, and if repayment can be made when the government compensation is prepared, please contact me."

Moved by the heartbreaking story, our government also quickly took measures. The Yongsan District Office stated that if Yuliana’s bereaved family obtains documents from the embassy and applies for funeral expenses, relief funds, and living stabilization funds totaling 35 million KRW, they will be prepared to provide the payment immediately.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is discussing with relevant ministries a plan to advance funeral expenses for foreign victims to prevent such cases from occurring again. They are also cooperating with the Ministry of Justice and others to simplify the entry procedures into Korea as much as possible for the convenience of the families of deceased foreigners.

The aviation industry also plans to provide convenience to the bereaved families. Asiana Airlines has expressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs its intention to support air tickets for the families of Itaewon tragedy victims visiting Korea to organize belongings. Asiana Airlines plans to provide round-trip tickets to the families of 14 foreign victims from 9 countries currently operating flights.

As actress Lee Young-ae and citizens expressed their willingness to help and the heartbreaking story became known, the Russian consulate decided to issue the necessary documents for transporting the body as quickly as possible and directly negotiate the transportation costs with the company. On the 4th, Yuliana will take the ferry departing from Donghae Port to Vladivostok, Russia, and head to Nakhodka, a Russian port city where her mother resides. It is reported that the deceased’s mother, left alone in her hometown, has completed funeral preparations locally.

The Korean-Russian support civic group "Neomeo Incheon Korean-Russian Cultural Center" will hold a memorial service for Yuliana today (the 3rd) at 5 p.m. at the Hapbak Comprehensive Social Welfare Center on Hambakan-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon.

Among the 156 victims of the Itaewon tragedy, 26 were foreigners from 14 countries. There were 5 Iranians, 4 Chinese, 4 Russians, 2 Americans, 2 Japanese, and one each from France, Australia, Norway, Austria, Vietnam, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Sri Lanka.