Seoul City Reiterates "Seoul Plaza Memorial Altar Must Be Removed"

"Bereaved Families Must Engage in Direct Dialogue by the 15th"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] On the 14th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government urged the families of the Itaewon tragedy victims once again to communicate with the city as the administrative enforcement deadline for the Seoul Plaza memorial altar approached by one day.

On the 6th, a citizen is paying tribute to the victims at the joint memorial altar for the 1029 Itaewon disaster victims installed in front of Seoul City Hall Plaza. The Itaewon Disaster Citizens' Countermeasures Committee and the Bereaved Families' Association set up the altar at Seoul Plaza on the 4th, but the Seoul Metropolitan Government warned that if the altar is not voluntarily removed by 1 p.m. on the 6th, administrative enforcement will be carried out. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

A Seoul city official stated, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government fully understands the appeals and painful feelings of the bereaved families regarding the memorial altar and the mourning space," but added, "However, the facilities currently installed at Seoul Plaza must be removed."

The Seoul Metropolitan Government had requested the families of the Itaewon tragedy victims to voluntarily dismantle the memorial altar installed at Seoul Plaza by 1 p.m. on the 15th. The families have stated that they will not voluntarily remove the altar without receiving the two official notices delivered by the city.

A Seoul city official said, "The current facilities, which were installed without permission and illegally, cannot be accepted by the citizens," and added, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government is open to all possibilities regarding the location of the memorial altar and will communicate with the bereaved families."

He continued, "We once again urge the bereaved families to engage in direct dialogue to install memorial and mourning facilities through legal procedures that citizens can agree upon," emphasizing, "Please open a channel for direct communication with the Seoul Metropolitan Government by the morning of the 15th. We will listen to any opinions proposed by the bereaved families."