[Itaewon Tragedy] Goldberg "Mourning as One... US Flag Flown at Half-Staff"

USFK "Deep Condolences... We Will Stand With You"

On the afternoon of the 30th, when President Yoon Suk-yeol designated the period until the Itaewon crowd crush disaster recovery is completed as a national mourning period, a flag at half-mast was raised at the U.S. Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the victims of the accident.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The U.S. Embassy in Korea expressed condolences over the Itaewon crowd crush tragedy by lowering the U.S. flag to half-staff as a mourning flag. The U.S. Forces Korea also issued a message of sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured from the incident.

Philip Goldberg, U.S. Ambassador to Korea, stated on his Twitter around noon on the 30th, "As a sign of condolence and respect to the Korean people following last night's Itaewon tragedy, I requested U.S. Marines to lower the U.S. flag at the embassy to half-staff."

Ambassador Goldberg attached a photo of the U.S. flag flying at half-staff at the U.S. Embassy located on Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Earlier that day at 8:16 a.m., Goldberg expressed his sorrow on Twitter, saying, "My heart aches over the tragic loss of life in Itaewon last night. The embassy staff and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Korean people, especially the families who lost loved ones and those injured in this tragedy."

Shoes are placed at the site of the Halloween fatal accident in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, which occurred on the 29th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, the United Nations Command under the U.S. Forces Korea also expressed deep condolences regarding the incident.

In a statement, the U.S. Forces Korea said, "Personnel from the United Nations Command, the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea extend their deepest sympathies to the families who lost loved ones and to those injured in the tragic event in Seoul last night."

They also emphasized the special bond between the U.S. military and the Itaewon community, stating, "The Itaewon community has embraced us with open arms for many years, which is part of the reason why the ROK-U.S. alliance is so strong."

They added, "During this period of mourning, just as you have stood with us, we will stand with you," including hashtags symbolizing the ROK-U.S. alliance slogans such as 'Gachi Gapsida' and 'WeGoTogether.'

As of the morning of the 30th, the death toll from the crowd crush near the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the night of the 29th was counted at 151. This is the worst loss of life since the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014, which claimed 304 lives.

Fire authorities reported a total of 233 casualties, including 151 dead and 82 injured. The death toll was initially identified as 59 around 2 a.m., but as many of the injured transported to hospitals succumbed, the number rose sharply to 149 by 6 a.m. Subsequently, two critically injured patients died during treatment, bringing the total to 151. Among the deceased, 19 were foreigners.