[Itaewon Tragedy] 'Bu', 'Mo', 'Oppa' on Sangju List... Bereaved Families Visiting Hospitals in Grief

12 Bodies Placed at Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital
Relatives Continue to Visit to Confirm Identities

On the afternoon of the 30th, a heavy atmosphere lingered at the funeral hall of Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, where 12 victims who died in the Itaewon crowd crush disaster were laid to rest. Photo by Yoo Byung-don tamond@

[Goyang=Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Chief mourners: ‘Father’, ‘Mother’, ‘Older brother’.

On the afternoon of the 30th, at the funeral hall of Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital in Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, where many victims of the Itaewon crowd crush disaster were laid to rest, a somewhat heavy atmosphere prevailed. When the bereaved family arrived and checked the list of chief mourners on the signboard indicating the location of the funeral and the mortuary for Mr. A, whose identity had been confirmed, a sense of incongruity was felt. The chief mourners were only father, mother, and older brother. This contrasted with the usual practice where children and grandchildren are also listed as chief mourners.

As of 6 a.m., 151 people had died and 103 were injured in the large-scale crowd crush accident that occurred on the 29th, two days before Halloween, in the alleys around the Hamilton Hotel on Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The 151 deceased were distributed and laid to rest at 42 hospitals and funeral halls in the metropolitan area, including Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital. Among the 103 injured, 24 were seriously injured and 79 had minor injuries, currently receiving treatment at 38 hospitals including Gangnam Seongsim Hospital.

Among them, 14 deceased were transported to Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, but 2 were transferred to other hospitals, and currently 12 are laid to rest there. Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital received the most deceased compared to other hospitals due to having more mortuary facilities. A hospital official explained, “Bereaved families who received the news are arriving one after another and undergoing identity verification procedures,” adding, “Currently, one victim whose identity has been confirmed has a prepared mortuary.”

In the bereaved family waiting room set up on one side of the funeral hall, the footsteps of family members trying to confirm the identity of their loved ones never ceased. Most of the bereaved families who visited the hospital with calm yet somber expressions, as if unable to believe the current situation, followed the hospital staff’s guidance and moved toward the mortuary. Some family members who confirmed their loved ones’ identities lost their composure and broke down in tears. One woman, unable to say a word, cried out loud, creating a solemn atmosphere around her.

Since most of the victims of this disaster were young people in their teens and twenties, those wearing black clothes were easily noticeable outside the funeral hall as well. Some of them could not bring themselves to enter the funeral hall and gathered in small groups outside, lowering their heads with gloomy expressions. Park (23), who came to the funeral hall with friends, said, “A friend who went to Itaewon yesterday came here, so I hurried over,” adding, “My friend’s parents have not arrived yet, so we are waiting outside.”

Meanwhile, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced plans to assign dedicated public officials to each bereaved family by identifying the deceased’s personal information and family contact details, and to review funeral measures. Funeral procedures and support for the bereaved will be carried out with maximum respect for their wishes, and the number of cremation facility operations will be increased by up to 60 per day. From the morning of the 31st, joint memorial altars will be set up at Seoul Plaza and Itaewon Plaza in Yongsan-gu.