[Let's Overcome Together] "Survived the Disaster Scene, But" ... Injured and Witnesses Only Shed Tears

Narrow Escape from Death Threat... "Horrific Scenes Keep Coming to Mind"
"When Accident Stories Come Up, I Freeze and Find It Hard to Breathe," Pleads Victim
Avoiding Problems and Escaping Reality Can Affect Personality and Character
Even If No Immediate Difficulty Is Felt, Professional Counseling Is Essential

On the 2nd, during the national mourning period following the large-scale crush disaster in Itaewon, visitors continued to pay their respects at the memorial space set up near Itaewon Station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Editor's NoteIn the face of a national disaster with a large number of casualties, not only the bereaved families and the injured but also rescue personnel, witnesses at the scene, and the public who watched the situation through photos or videos are struggling to recover from the shock. Since this was a major tragedy that occurred in an extremely ordinary space, it is expected that it will take some time for everyone to overcome feelings of anxiety, fear, and guilt and find peace of mind. Asia Economy will take an in-depth look over three installments at how our society should embrace this pain and overcome it together.

On the night of October 29, when the Itaewon tragedy occurred, Mr. Lee, a man in his 20s who was trapped at the accident site and barely made it home, could not leave his house for three days and barely slept. Upon hearing that a memorial space for the victims had been set up near Noksapyeong Station, he finally mustered the courage to visit there on the afternoon of the 1st, but tears blurred his vision both on the subway and on the street, making it difficult to move forward. Mr. Lee said, "I came out because I wanted to share my story after seeing comments on internet articles saying things like 'Did you go out late at night to do drugs or party all night?'" He choked up again, saying, "People who were just ordinary sons and daughters living normal lives died so tragically and miserably right before my eyes, and I can't erase that image."

Mr. Jung, a worker in his 20s who was swept up in the crowd, is also plagued by nightmares day and night. He said, "I was somewhat behind the point where many casualties occurred, so I only twisted my leg and was able to get out of the scene, but I feel guilty toward the victims because I couldn't help them," adding, "Every morning when I take Line 6 subway to work and pass Itaewon Station and Noksapyeong Station, my heart pounds and tears come, making it hard to focus on work. I ended up taking a half-day off today to visit the memorial altar."

That night, in the narrow alleys of Itaewon, the difference of a step or two meant the difference between life and death. There were 156 people who lost their lives and 173 injured in the tragedy, but thousands more barely escaped the scene. People nearby who were unaware of the accident rushed to move the injured and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), desperately trying to save even one more life. After the scene was cleared and everyone returned home, relief at having escaped the accident was short-lived as horrific images resurfaced and guilt over those who could not be saved weighed heavily.

Disaster Survivors: Depression and Self-Blame Worsen After Acute Trauma Phase

Kim Dong-wook, president of the Korean Association of Mental Health Psychiatry, explained, "Those who were at the scene during the tragedy are direct disaster victims and are currently going through the 'acute phase' of psychological trauma, so they will experience feelings of emptiness, helplessness, anger, and anxiety." He added, "As time passes, they may become more depressed and regretful, wondering why they acted as they did or what might have happened if they had acted differently."

Such symptoms should not persist for more than one to two weeks and require prompt treatment. While most people naturally recover after the acute phase, professional treatment is necessary if recovery does not occur. Kim said, "What patients suffering from trauma find most difficult is experiencing an unpredictable accident, being more shocked than they expected, and feeling helpless because they could not escape the damage." He emphasized, "Especially for those who directly experienced the tragedy, emotions may be suppressed initially and difficulties may not be felt immediately, but it is essential to have at least one consultation with a professional counselor."

Mr. Yang, 21, who was drinking with friends at a bar about 100 meters from the accident site and came out onto the roadside after midnight, broke into tears while describing the situation. He said, "I thought there was a fire because fire trucks and ambulances kept coming and going, but when I left the bar, there was blood everywhere on the street, dozens of people were frantically performing CPR, and some were filming videos with their phones." He added, "While helping my drunken friends get to the main road, the bodies I saw and the people taken away by ambulance in cardiac arrest remain etched in my mind." Yang said, "On Sunday and Monday, the days after the tragedy, I stayed inside trying to calm my mind, but when I took the subway to school on Tuesday, I suddenly felt suffocated and burst into tears. Rather than sadness or fear, whenever the accident is mentioned, my mind blanks out and I feel suffocated, tormented by guilt wondering why I was happily partying while such a big accident happened right next to me that day."

Mr. Lee, 33, who performed CPR on cardiac arrest patients at the scene immediately after the tragedy, said, "People who looked younger than me had blue lips and were vomiting blood, but there was nothing I could do." He added, "I can't even watch the news coverage of the accident on TV because the images from that day keep flashing in my mind like afterimages, making it hard to even talk about it."

On the 2nd, police forces are controlling access around the Itaewon disaster site in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

"I don't even dare to go outside" ... People Left Behind at the Tragedy Site

Not only those who directly experienced or witnessed the accident but also residents near the tragedy site, self-employed business owners, and local government officials are suffering from trauma.

Mr. Park, a 50-year-old resident of Itaewon, said, "No family, relatives, or friends of mine were victims of the accident, but now I hesitate to even leave my house, not only near the Hamilton Hotel but anywhere." He sighed, "As a local native, I know every alley and street well, so I can picture the scene even without watching the news. Itaewon has been a place where people of all nationalities and races have met and played for decades, so my heart aches and I don't think I'll be able to even take walks with my family around the neighborhood for a while."

Local government officials, criticized for failing to properly focus administrative power such as traffic control despite anticipating large crowds, are also mentally distressed. Mr. A, an official at Yongsan District Office, said, "The Halloween festival was expected to bring vitality to the area. When the accident news came, everyone rushed out to try to save as many people as possible, but it was beyond our capacity." Another official, Mr. B, said, "Currently, all district office staff are focused on accident recovery and victim support. We already feel like sinners to families, friends, and the entire nation, so even if we are struggling or traumatized, we cannot speak out anywhere," bowing his head.

Jung Jung-yeop, director of the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association and a psychiatrist, explained, "Trauma is when an individual's memory of a shocking event is altered or they react more sensitively to similar situations." He added, "If this state continues, people may try to avoid problems or become numb to reality, which can affect their personality." Jung emphasized, "If individuals strive to regain inner stability and receive continuous support from those around them, they can definitely overcome and recover from trauma. It is important to stay in a place that provides psychological stability and receive appropriate psychological treatment from the early stages."