[Itaewon Tragedy] Jungnang-gu Prepares Measures Including Support for Itaewon Accident Bereaved Families... Joint Memorial Altar Set Up to Honor Victims

[Seoul District News] Jungnang-gu Assigns Dedicated Officials to Support Victims' Families · Joint Memorial Altars Operated at District Office Central Plaza Until November 5, Commemorating with All Residents · Situation Headquarters Operating 24/7 and Free Psychological Counseling for Residents ... Jeong Munheon, Jongno-gu Mayor, Pays Respects at Joint Memorial Altar ... Joint Memorial Altar Established at Songpa-gu Office to Mourn with Residents · Seo Gangseok, Songpa-gu Mayor, Visits Accident Site on 30th to Inspect Risk Factors
"Everyone is Devastated by the News of Young Lives Lost... Mourning Together"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) established a countermeasure situation headquarters on the 31st to support the bereaved families and injured victims related to the Itaewon accident that occurred on the 29th, and set up and operates a joint memorial altar.

The district first prepared support measures for the bereaved families and injured victims. Dedicated officials are assigned to assist the bereaved families with funeral procedures and guide government support, staying on site. The district also plans to quickly identify the injured victims to provide support.

In addition, the district has separately prepared a joint memorial altar in the central plaza of the district office to mourn the victims. It operates from 2 p.m. on the 31st, and anyone can visit to pay respects daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The operation period is until November 5.

Support measures have also been devised for residents experiencing psychological difficulties due to the Itaewon accident. Anyone in Jungnang-gu can receive free psychological counseling at the 'Todak Todak Mental Health Counseling Center' operated by the district. Counseling sessions last 50 minutes each, with up to 8 sessions per person. Reservations can be made by phone, and detailed information is available on the Jungnang-gu Health Center website.

The district decided to cancel or postpone scheduled events or festivals during the national mourning period. Additionally, flags will be flown at half-mast at the district office and community centers, and all employees will wear black ribbons to express mourning.

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “I extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to the victims and their families,” adding, “We will actively cooperate and support Seoul City and related agencies to promptly resolve the accident. To prevent such tragic accidents from recurring, we will conduct special inspections of all facilities, construction sites, and event venues in Jungnang-gu to prevent safety accidents, and devote manpower and budget to thoroughly protect the lives of residents.”

Guro-gu announced that it will set up and operate a joint memorial altar in the Guro-gu Office plaza from 6 p.m. on the 31st to mourn the victims of the Itaewon accident.

The Guro-gu joint memorial altar will operate until November 5, the national mourning period designated by the government. On the first day of installation, October 31, visitors can pay respects from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and thereafter, anyone can visit freely from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Earlier, on the 30th, the district held an emergency countermeasure meeting related to the Itaewon accident and decided to cancel or postpone all scheduled district events during the national mourning period. During this period, flags will be flown at half-mast at the district office, community centers, health centers, and affiliated public institutions.

Moon Heon-il, Mayor of Guro-gu, said, “I express deep sorrow and condolences to those who passed away in the Itaewon accident,” adding, “We will actively cooperate in the national disaster recovery and do our best to stabilize all situations as soon as possible.”

Jung Moon-heon, Mayor of Jongno-gu, visited the Jongno-gu joint memorial altar set up at Bukinsa Madang in Insadong at 5 p.m. on the 31st to pay respects.

Jongno-gu plans to operate the joint memorial altar for the Itaewon tragedy victims here until November 5, the national mourning period, to honor the deceased. The operating hours are from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Mayor Jung Moon-heon said, “We will closely cooperate with Seoul City and related departments to assist in recovery so that such a tragedy never repeats,” and “I sincerely wish for the repose of the victims and the speedy recovery of the injured.”

Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) will operate a 'Joint Memorial Altar for the Itaewon Accident Victims' on the first floor of the district office main building from October 31 to November 5 to mourn the Itaewon tragedy that occurred on the 29th.

Lee Soon-hee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, and district officials visited the joint memorial altar on the 31st to express condolences for the victims.

Jo Sung-myung, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, visited the joint memorial altar set up in the district office's second annex with district executives on the afternoon of the 31st to pay respects.

Gangnam-gu installed joint memorial altars at two locations: the second annex of Gangnam-gu Office and Gangnam Square near Gangnam Station to mourn the victims who died in the Itaewon accident.

The Gangnam-gu joint memorial altar operates from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. until November 5.

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it has installed a joint memorial altar at Wangsimni Station Plaza to mourn the tragic deaths of the Itaewon accident victims and will operate it until the 5th of this month, the national mourning period.

The Seongdong-gu joint memorial altar operates from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and anyone can pay respects. Mayor Jung Won-oh and district executives visited the altar shortly after its installation to mourn the victims. Among the victims of this accident, it is identified that seven are Seongdong-gu residents, including foreigners. The district plans to assign dedicated officials as heads of the deceased's residential community centers to assist with funeral procedures and provide multifaceted support using the sharing network.

Seongdong-gu has canceled or indefinitely postponed most scheduled festivals and events involving large numbers of participants. Furthermore, safety management will be rechecked for areas where large crowds may gather, multi-use facilities, and large-scale festivals. The district will also strengthen 24-hour CCTV monitoring at the integrated operation center on the 5th floor of the district office and maintain close cooperation with related agencies such as the police and fire department.

Mayor Jung Won-oh of Seongdong-gu said, “Once again, I express deep condolences to the victims and sincerely offer comfort to the remaining bereaved families,” adding, “Seongdong-gu will focus administrative power on the Itaewon accident recovery and work hard to prevent accidents.”

Since the 31st, joint memorial altars have been set up across Seoul, and a procession of mourning for the Itaewon tragedy victims has continued.

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) also announced on the 1st that it has installed the 'Joint Memorial Altar for the Itaewon Accident Victims' at the Open Yard in front of Gangdong-gu Office and will operate it for six days from 5 p.m. on the 31st until the 5th of next month.

The official operating hours of the joint memorial altar are from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and after operating hours, visitors can pay respects voluntarily.

On the 29th, to promptly handle the Itaewon tragedy and follow-up measures, the district held an emergency countermeasure meeting at 11:30 a.m., activated the disaster countermeasure headquarters 24 hours a day, and monitored the damage situation in real time. It also decided to temporarily cancel or postpone all upcoming events and festivals.

Lee Soo-hee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, expressed deep condolences for the tragic deaths and said, “Our district will actively support follow-up measures and government assistance for the families of victims and injured persons,” adding, “We will thoroughly review safety management plans for upcoming events and festivals to do our best to prevent such tragedies from happening again.”

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Kang-seok) will operate the 'Joint Memorial Altar for the Itaewon Accident Victims' in front of the district office plaza until November 5, the national mourning period.

Seo Kang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “Many residents are deeply saddened and shocked by this tragedy,” explaining, “We thought residents would need a place to express their grief, so we set up the joint memorial altar.”

The Songpa-gu joint memorial altar operates for five days from November 1, daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Anyone can visit to pay respects, and visits outside operating hours are also possible voluntarily.

The district, led by Mayor Seo Kang-seok, is focusing all efforts on follow-up measures to support victims among residents affected by this tragedy.

In addition to prompt support for funeral procedures, psychological counseling support is provided. Residents experiencing trauma from this tragedy?including bereaved families, injured persons and their families, witnesses, and responders?can receive help through expert counseling. Inquiries can be made via the mental health crisis counseling phone line.

Moreover, the district is mourning the victims by flying flags at half-mast at community centers and other public institutions and hanging mourning banners on the exterior walls of the district office. Officials have postponed or canceled external events such as dinners and workshops and will focus on disaster recovery support and resident safety inspections.

On the 30th of last month, Mayor Seo Kang-seok visited the Itaewon accident site after an emergency countermeasure meeting. He said, “I visited the accident site personally to ensure such tragedies never happen again and to identify ways the district can assist in recovery.”

On the 31st, he visited four hospitals where Songpa-gu residents who were victims are admitted and two other hospitals in Songpa-gu where victims from other areas are admitted. At this occasion, Mayor Seo Kang-seok said, “As a fellow parent, I am deeply devastated,” adding, “We will do our best to provide necessary support and conduct meticulous administration to continuously check safety in all areas to prevent urban disasters from occurring again.”