[Itaewon Tragedy] People Grieving the Itaewon Tragedy... Korea Plunged into Trauma

People Claiming Trauma
Encounter Accident Videos on YouTube
Survivors of Disasters Suffer More Severely
"Hateful and Hostile Speech Must Stop"

On the 31st, people placed chrysanthemums and memorial messages at the memorial space in front of Exit 1 of Itaewon Station in Seoul. They left messages such as "Rest in peace" and "We are sorry." / Photo by Gong Byung-seon mydillon@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The number of people suffering from trauma is increasing due to the Itaewon disaster, in which 154 people lost their lives. Experts advise that the government must actively support the victims' recovery and society must adopt an inclusive attitude to help people overcome trauma.

On the 31st, a memorial space was set up in front of Exit 1 of Itaewon Station in Seoul. Citizens expressed their condolences for the 154 people who died in the disaster as they passed by. At the memorial site, not only white chrysanthemums but also various messages were written. Citizens left notes such as "Rest in peace," "Please sleep peacefully," and "We should have saved even one more person; we are truly sorry."

People have reported trauma due to the disaster. This is because videos of the accident scene are indiscriminately spread through YouTube and other platforms, making them easily accessible. In fact, when searching for 'Itaewon disaster' on YouTube, videos showing victims’ faces or body parts uncovered while receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or being carried by paramedics could be seen. Mr. Koo (62), a self-employed person near Itaewon, said, "I repeatedly encountered scenes of very young lives being sacrificed through media and YouTube," adding, "It seems it will leave a huge scar on people, just like the Sewol ferry disaster in the past."

The survivors of the disaster are in an even more serious condition. Survivors met on the day of the disaster, the 29th, were still trembling with fear even though the situation had ended. They were blankly staring at the disaster site with blankets wrapped around them past midnight. Mr. Kim (27), who was shaking, said, "I felt tremendous pressure on my chest along with the shout 'Push from behind.' I literally almost died," adding, "A woman next to me screamed and told me to hold on a little longer, but she died standing up. When I close my eyes, that scene comes back to me." Mr. Daniel (50) from the United States said, "I never expected to experience something like this at a party," and added, "I told my home country that I was unharmed, but my family is still anxious."

The government must actively support victims’ recovery... Inclusion and empathy are also needed for healing

Experts have expressed the need for appropriate support for victims’ recovery. Professor Moon Hyun-chul of the Disaster Safety Management Department at Soongsil University Graduate School said, "People directly affected can visit the Ministry of the Interior and Safety website or nearby community centers to apply for 'disaster psychological support' and receive counseling and various assistance," but added, "However, there is a limitation in that victims must directly report their trauma and apply to receive support."

It has also been pointed out that to stop the trauma affecting the entire nation, hatred and hatred speech must first be stopped. To prevent secondary trauma not only for victims’ families but also for paramedics, police officers, and witnesses of the accident scene, acceptance of the disaster is a priority. Jeong Chan-seung, Public Relations Officer of the Korean Trauma Stress Society, said, "'They got into trouble because they went to that party' or 'They had an accident while playing'?such hateful or hateful remarks do not help trauma recovery," adding, "Rather than criticism, embracing and empathizing will help victims recover faster."