Itaewon Survivor: "Hope Everyone's Daily Life Recovers Soon..."

Kim Chorong Appears on Radio Broadcast: "Saddened by Itaewon Commercial District Decline"
"Suffered from Self-Blame and Regret... Expert Counseling Helped Overcome Trauma"

A notice of temporary closure is posted near the Itaewon accident site about a month after the disaster on the 28th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] A survivor of the Itaewon tragedy expressed sorrow over the lifeless Itaewon streets after the disaster, saying, "I will visit Itaewon again next year and enjoy my daily life as before."

Kim Chorong (33), who was at the scene of the Itaewon tragedy that occurred on the 29th of last month, appeared on CBS Radio's special program "Connecting Hearts" on the 28th and revealed that she struggled to maintain her daily life due to feelings of guilt and self-blame immediately after the disaster. She said, "At the time of the accident, I did not fully realize what had happened, but when I got home and saw the news, I understood what kind of scene I was in," adding, "It was difficult after returning home, with overwhelming thoughts of 'I shouldn't have gone there' and feelings of guilt and self-blame."

Kim said she made various efforts to overcome the trauma. She explained, "Avoiding and ignoring it was even harder," and added, "I went to the site several times to pay tribute and mourn, and actively sought out professionals." She continued, "Words from friends, family, or those flooding the internet felt formal and did not comfort me at all. But when a professional listened to my story and said, 'This is not your fault,' I felt psychological relief," recommending professional counseling.

She also expressed sadness over the lifeless Itaewon commercial district after the tragedy. She said, "The people at fault are not these people, so why does this place have to turn into darkness like this?" and added, "I want to eat more here, spend more actively here, and come back here next year to enjoy my daily life as before." She further said, "By doing so, I want to protect their daily lives as well as mine," and "I hope more people can live there as they originally did without any worries."

When asked if she had any message for those who were at the scene of the tragedy, Kim replied, "I hope you live well. I hope you do many things you like and feel happy, and travel a lot." Finally, she shared a wish with the listeners, saying, "I don't want to say anything grand. I just hope we become people who care for and love each other a lot," and added, "Can't we be a little kinder to each other?"