"'Ulsan Fire Mocking Memo' Culprit Confesses... 'An Outsider on Business Trip, Not a Fabrication by Disaster Victims'"

[Image source = SNS capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] On the 8th, a mocking note targeting the victims of the large fire at the Samhwan Arnuvo mixed-use building in Ulsan was found at the Stars Hotel, where the evacuees were staying, sparking controversy. Although media reports later revealed that the incident was a 'staged act,' the hotel stated that the real culprit was someone else who has since confessed. The victims are considering legal action.

On the 13th, Mr. A, who was temporarily staying at the Stars Hotel, posted a photo of a note on SNS, saying, "I found this inside the hotel room," with the note titled 'Playlist for the Victims.'

The note contained song titles related to fire, such as Oh My Girl's "Fireworks," BTS's "Fire," and BLACKPINK's "Playing with Fire."

Mr. A said, "It feels like an excessive act of malice to write such a list aimed at us, who were rescued from the fire," and appealed, "Please do not ignite even the hearts of those who survived the fire."

The post quickly spread and provoked public outrage. However, on the 17th, media reports surfaced claiming that the mocking note was a staged act by the victims themselves. It was reported that Mr. A, who first found the note and posted the photo on SNS, admitted to writing it when the hotel tried to check the security cameras. The posts on Mr. A's account were later deleted.

However, on the 18th, Mr. A posted an additional message stating, "The hotel contacted me saying the person who wrote the note would apologize, and after that, I have not spoken with the hotel," and warned, "I want to make it clear that the staged act claim is false."

A representative of the Stars Hotel also revealed, "Around the 15th, someone who wrote the note contacted the hotel wanting to apologize to the victims," and added, "The culprit who wrote the note was an outsider who used the hotel for a business trip."

Kim Sang-hoon, chairman of the residents' representative council, emphasized, "There is no confirmation that the resident who found the note admitted to writing it, and the hotel has never responded to media inquiries claiming it was a staged act," adding, "The sudden staged act reports are causing secondary and tertiary harm to the fire victims, and we are reviewing ways to respond."