[Column] The Difference Between Itaewon and Gwanghwamun Square

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] "There are many police officers and ambulances in sight. We can cheer with peace of mind." This was the comment of a citizen cheering for the World Cup national soccer team at Gwanghwamun Square in the early morning of the 6th. It was a large-scale event held in downtown Seoul about a month after the Itaewon tragedy occurred on October 29. More than 400 police officers, deployed in what seemed to be an excessive number, were stationed throughout the site, and fire services and local governments mobilized personnel to maintain order and ensure the safe return of the cheering groups. The police even showed meticulous care by announcing subway operations and providing warnings against slippery conditions that day.

Throughout the street cheering, the police divided the square into five zones to prevent crowding in specific areas, and about 60 fire personnel were mobilized. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Jongno District Office also set up a comprehensive situation room on site to help maintain order.

Only after losing 158 precious lives did South Korea’s safety awareness revive. In fact, on the day of the Itaewon tragedy, the police, fire services, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and local governments all avoided responsibility by claiming it was an 'event without an organizer.' They were only eager to emphasize that while there was moral responsibility, there was no legal liability.

The police even questioned whether citizens would have complied with control measures had they been dispatched to the scene at the time of the accident. However, just by looking at this Gwanghwamun street cheering event, the revived safety awareness of the police, fire services, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and local governments resulted in zero safety incidents. Citizens expressed regret, saying, "If only the World Cup street cheering had been half as well managed as it was during the Itaewon tragedy."

The bereaved families regard Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, National Police Agency Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun, and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Kim Kwang-ho as the true responsible parties. Through an investigation without sanctuary, the cause of the tragedy must be clearly revealed, and effective measures to prevent recurrence must be established so that such accidents never happen again. The entire Republic of Korea is currently trapped in trauma. Since the government is absent at disaster accident sites, citizens are always plagued by anxiety. A system must be established with the mindset that accidents can happen anytime and anywhere.