'Itaewon Tragedy' Seoul Plaza Memorial Altar Sparks Extreme Confrontation: "Removal" vs "Opposition"

Seoul City "Illegal Facilities, Noksapyeong Station Space Proposal"
Bereaved Families "Blatant Measure to Silence Memorial Silence"

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Taewon and Gong Byungseon] The bereaved families and the Seoul Metropolitan Government remain at odds over the citizen memorial altar that was suddenly installed at Seoul Plaza to commemorate 100 days since the Itaewon tragedy.

On the afternoon of the 4th, one day before the 100th day since the Itaewon tragedy, the 10.29 Itaewon Tragedy Bereaved Families Association and the Citizens' Countermeasure Meeting clashed with police who were trying to prevent them from suddenly setting up a memorial altar at Seoul Plaza. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 6th, the city has classified the altar as an illegal facility and stated that if it is not voluntarily removed by 1 p.m. that day, administrative enforcement will be carried out. Earlier, on the 4th, the 10·29 Itaewon Tragedy Bereaved Families Council and the Citizens’ Countermeasure Committee abruptly set up the altar in front of the Seoul Library in Jung-gu, Seoul.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government issued a statement the day before, saying, "We repeatedly express regret over the sudden installation of the facility without prior notice. We believe it is difficult to gain national sympathy, which the bereaved families deeply seek," and added, "The plan for administrative enforcement remains unchanged."

They further stated, "We cannot help but be concerned about safety issues caused by the illegal facility and the possibility of conflicts among citizens," and added, "The bereaved families requested a symbolic and peaceful space not far from Itaewon. Therefore, we proposed a sufficiently sized location within Noksapyeong Station (Noksapyeong Station condolence space), which is convenient even during rainy weather."

According to the 'Ordinance on the Use and Management of Seoul Plaza,' to use the plaza, a usage application must be submitted to the city and permission obtained. If the plaza is occupied without permission, the city can order the removal of the facility or take necessary measures.

On the other hand, the bereaved families of the Itaewon tragedy and civic groups maintain their position that the Seoul Plaza memorial altar cannot be dismantled.

The bereaved families responded to the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s stance by saying, "Trusting the mayor’s promise to cooperate in creating a memorial space, we proposed installing the altar at Sejongno Park near Gwanghwamun Plaza, but the city denied permission not only for the altar but also for the 100-day citizen memorial rally at the northern plaza of Gwanghwamun," and criticized it as "a blatant measure to silence the mourning of the bereaved families and citizens."

A representative of the countermeasure committee also questioned, "Can condolences be received at Noksapyeong Station, which is located four floors underground and difficult to access?"

The bereaved families clearly stated that there would be no removal of the altar by the morning of the day when the voluntary removal deadline set by the Seoul Metropolitan Government was approaching. Lee Jongcheol, the representative of the bereaved families council, said that morning, "Even if forced removal occurs without voluntary removal, we will resist and remain."

In this situation, concerns are emerging that conflicts similar to those surrounding the memorial tents at Gwanghwamun Plaza during the Sewol ferry disaster may recur.

About three months after the Sewol ferry disaster, in July 2014, the bereaved families installed 14 tents at Gwanghwamun Plaza demanding a thorough investigation. Later, the late Mayor Park Won-soon of Seoul responded to the central government’s request for convenience support and allowed the installation. However, it was revealed that three of the 14 tents were technically illegal facilities, sparking social conflict over whether to remove them. Some conservative groups even filed complaints against the late Mayor Park with the prosecution. Nevertheless, removal did not take place due to opposition from the bereaved families and civic groups.

Subsequently, due to the restructuring construction of Gwanghwamun Plaza, a temporary memorial space was established in front of the Seoul City Council in November 2021 instead of tents. However, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced in June last year that the operation period of the temporary space had ended and notified power and water disconnection, effectively signaling its intention to remove the space. In response, the 4·16 Solidarity has been conducting a one-person protest to 'Protect the Sewol Memory Space' since the 11th of last month, and the conflict remains ongoing.