[Inside Chodong] The Collapse of the System Was as Horrific as the Disaster Itself

On the 7th, citizens are paying tribute to the victims at the joint memorial altar for the Itaewon disaster victims set up at Noksapyeong Station Plaza in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seong Giho] October 30, 2022, 3 a.m. This was the time when the reporter witnessed a heartbreaking scene that will never be forgotten. The ‘Wonhyo-ro Multipurpose Gymnasium,’ where some of the victims of the Itaewon disaster were laid to rest. Having heard the unbelievable news, the reporter hurried to the gymnasium, which is just a five-minute distance from home. Although belonging to the industrial department covering corporations, the boundaries of the assigned beat did not matter in the face of a national tragedy. The first feeling upon arrival was despair. Especially, the ‘system collapse’ as horrific as the disaster itself made the reporter angry as a citizen of the Republic of Korea.

First, there was neglect of the victims’ bereaved families and relatives. Those met at the scene expressed frustration and bewilderment, saying, “We received no guidance whatsoever.” They had rushed to the Wonhyo-ro Gymnasium, where the largest number of victims were laid to rest, after failing to contact their sons, daughters, or friends, but it was all in vain.

There was even a story of someone who tracked the location using another device linked to the victim’s smartphone and rushed to the Wonhyo-ro Gymnasium. Neither the Dasan Call Center, 112, 119, nor the site provided any information.

It was also incomprehensible that the families and relatives of the victims were left waiting outside the Wonhyo-ro Gymnasium without any measures. The government, upon confirming the identity of the victims, transported them to hospitals by ambulance and then proceeded with final confirmation through families and relatives. The bereaved families and relatives had nothing to do at the site but wait. Couldn’t they have been guided to wait in nearby indoor spaces? Many were shivering in the cold autumn dawn, deeply wounded emotionally.

During the coverage, blankets and bottled water with donation stickers from a major corporation arrived at the scene. It was assumed these items would be given to the families and relatives waiting outside the Wonhyo-ro Gymnasium, but the supplies were immediately taken inside the gymnasium. Those waiting outside had no choice but to embrace each other and endure the cold with their body heat while crying.

There were also many aspects of the treatment of on-site staff that were hard to understand. Yongsan District Office dispatched a considerable number of public officials to the Wonhyo-ro Gymnasium through an emergency call-up. The role of these officials was to form a human barrier to prevent photography when victims were moved from the gymnasium to ambulances. During this process, they inevitably witnessed the victims being loaded into ambulances. No matter that they were public officials, was it necessary for them to see such scenes with their own eyes? Who will take responsibility for their trauma? Would it have been so difficult for someone at the scene to simply tell the officials to turn their backs?

The disaster is a mirror that unflinchingly reflects the level of our society. The society encountered at the scene was still far from where it needs to be. Measures and preparations for victims and the injured will be intensively addressed as the disaster has brought these issues into public discourse. However, careful consideration for the victims’ families, relatives, and public personnel involved in recovery efforts must also be made. Above all, a humane approach should be extended to those emotionally wounded around the disaster. I believe this is the first step toward overcoming this tragedy that must never happen again.