Conservative Group Abruptly Sets Up Memorial Altars for COVID-19 and Vaccine Deaths in Downtown Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The civic group 'COVID-19 Truth Investigation Citizens' Coalition' suddenly set up a joint memorial altar in downtown Seoul on the 23rd to honor those who died from COVID-19 and those who passed away after vaccination.

At 2:30 PM that day, the coalition installed three tents measuring 5m wide by 5m long and two tents measuring 5m wide by 3m long on the sidewalk in front of the Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall across from Seoul City Hall.

The coalition plans to hold an opening ceremony on the 26th and will place furniture and portrait photos of the deceased at the memorial altar. The group stated that they have received about thirty portrait photos from bereaved families so far.

Kim Du-cheon, the standing chairman of the coalition, said, "The number of deaths from COVID-19 is approaching 7,000, and the memorial altar was created to comfort those who were unable to have proper funerals."

The coalition explained that they initially tried to set up the memorial altar at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall or Cheonggye Plaza but resorted to a surprise installation after failing to obtain permission from the authorities.

While some have expressed concerns about the tents causing inconvenience to pedestrians since they were installed on the sidewalk, the Jung-gu Office of Seoul is reportedly planning to forcibly remove the tents on the 24th.