Joint Memorial Altar for Self-Employed Closes Today... Condolences Continue from All Walks of Life

On the 17th, an official is organizing the condolence hall at the joint memorial altar for deceased self-employed individuals set up in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Condolences from various sectors continue at the joint memorial altar honoring self-employed individuals who took extreme measures due to financial hardships.

At the joint memorial altar near Exit 3 of National Assembly Station in Yeouido, Seoul, visitors continue to pay their respects even on the final day of operation, the 18th. Self-employed individuals as well as ordinary citizens visit the site to light incense or place chrysanthemums in memory of the deceased.

Politicians have also been paying their respects. On the afternoon of the same day, Hong Joon-pyo, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, visited the altar to offer condolences. The previous day, key politicians including Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, Yoon Ho-jung, floor leader of the Democratic Party, former Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Nak-yeon, and Shim Sang-jung of the Justice Party also visited.

Originally a makeshift memorial altar, the site has now taken on a more complete form. The National Emergency Committee for Self-Employed in Response to COVID-19 (Emergency Committee) initially attempted to set up the joint memorial altar in front of Exit 1 of National Assembly Station around 2 p.m. on the 16th but was blocked by the police. The police judged that it might violate the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and the Assembly and Demonstration Act. After a standoff lasting over seven hours, a makeshift altar was finally set up at a nearby location. The makeshift altar was hastily created on a white mat about one pyeong (approximately 3.3 square meters) in size. After the altar was fully established, citizens brought wreaths, letters, and food offerings. The Emergency Committee plans to operate the altar until 11 p.m. that day, concluding with a memorial speech and funeral procession procedures.

The wave of mourning continues online as well. In group chat rooms with hundreds of self-employed participants, members are posting black ribbons on their profile pictures and holding memorial relay events. Self-employed organizations such as the Emergency Committee plan to continue collective actions, including vehicle protests, after Chuseok. Their anger has reached a peak as their attempts to hold vehicle protests and set up memorial altars have repeatedly been blocked.

Meanwhile, the Small Business Association and the Emergency Committee have reportedly received 25 reports related to self-employed individuals who have taken extreme measures, in addition to known cases such as self-employed individuals in Mapo-gu. According to these organizations, since the COVID-19 crisis, self-employed individuals have accumulated debts exceeding 66 trillion won over one and a half years, and more than 453,000 stores have closed.