[One Year After the Itaewon Tragedy]② "Memories of That Day Led Me to Move My Store"... Lives Changed

"Trauma Remains" Hero Who Moved Store
Bereaved Family of Korea University Student Donates 200 Million Won to Alma Mater
Minister Lee Sang-min Returns to Duty After Impeachment Motion
Yongsan District Mayor and Others Under Trial and Investigation

Various figures appeared in the tragedy that occurred in Itaewon on October 29 last year. One year later, the merchant who was praised as a 'hero' for saving a passerby during the disaster has relocated his store. The bereaved family of the female university student who lost her life donated a scholarship to her alma mater in honor of her wishes. Lee Sang-min, the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety who faced impeachment, returned to his duties following the Constitutional Court's dismissal of the impeachment, while Park Hee-young, the Mayor of Yongsan District, and Lee Im-jae, former Chief of Yongsan Police Station, are currently on trial. Investigations are also ongoing into Kim Kwang-ho, Chief of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and Shin Hyun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was involved in the controversy over riding the 'Doctor Car.'

Mr. Nam In-seok (81), who moved his store from the alley where the Itaewon tragedy occurred on the 20th to near Noksapyeong Station, is organizing his goods.
Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

◆'Hero' who moved his store= Nam In-seok (81), who runs a clothing store in Itaewon, moved his store near Noksapyeong Station in June. Nam’s store was located in the alley where the disaster occurred. He is also known as a 'hero' who saved a woman from being trampled by grabbing her arm and pulling her out during the disaster. When asked why he moved the store after 12 years, Nam said, "Because no one comes to that Itaewon alley anymore." Above all, what troubled him was the mental trauma. Many people asked about his memories of the day of the disaster, and recalling that day continuously exhausted him. Even after a year, the shock remains. Nam said with teary eyes, "The images of the young people from that day suddenly come to mind, and it breaks my heart."

◆Bereaved family donates to alma mater for 'daughter’s bucket list'= The bereaved family of the late Shin Ae-jin, a victim of the disaster, donated 200 million won in scholarship funds to Korea University, which Shin attended, on the 19th. Shin, a 2017 student of the Department of Life Sciences at Korea University, had 'donate to alma mater' on her bucket list. Shin’s father, Shin Jeong-seop, said, "We donated the scholarship fund to Korea University to keep our daughter’s name remembered and to honor her wishes. We did not spend a single penny of the condolence money given by her friends and the money she saved while working. We hope that our daughter’s always dreaming and challenging spirit will be well conveyed to her alma mater and juniors and be used for a good cause." The scholarship fund will be given to juniors in the Department of Life Sciences and the MCC academic society of the Business School, where Shin was involved.

The family of the late Shin Ae-jin, who was a victim of the Itaewon tragedy last year, donated 200 million KRW in scholarship funds to her alma mater, Korea University, in honor of her wishes. Shin's younger sibling and father Shin Jeong-seop, Korea University President Kim Dong-won, and mother Kim Nam-hee (from left).
[Photo by Korea University]

◆Minister of Interior and Safety returns to duty= Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min was suspended from duty in February, three months after the disaster, following the ruling of impeachment by the opposition party. However, on July 25, the Constitutional Court unanimously dismissed the impeachment against Minister Lee. The court ruled, "This disaster was not caused or expanded by a single cause or specific individual," and "It is difficult to hold Minister Lee responsible from a normative perspective." The opposition party continues to criticize the minister. During the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee hearing on the 10th, Democratic Party member Kang Byung-won pointed out, "When a disaster occurs, the person responsible for the tragedy stepping down is an expression of the government’s will to prevent recurrence." Minister Lee responded, "Unfortunately, disasters tend to repeat. The disaster cannot be prevented simply by the person responsible stepping down each time."

◆Yongsan District Mayor and former Police Chief on trial= Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan District, and Lee Im-jae, former Chief of Yongsan Police Station, were indicted in January on charges including professional negligence resulting in death or injury and falsification of official documents. They are accused of failing to properly prepare for or respond to the safety accident despite being able to foresee it. Their first trial was held on March 17 while in custody, but they were released on bail in June. The court stated, "There is no risk of evidence destruction or flight." Mayor Park’s side argues that the Itaewon Halloween festival had no organizer, so it was not subject to a safety management plan. Former Chief Lee claimed in court that poor radio communication made it difficult to grasp the situation during the disaster. The prosecution argues, "It was a disaster that could have been foreseen and managed," but recently, during the trial, Mayor Park’s side rebutted by citing the reasons for the dismissal of Minister Lee’s impeachment.

◆Investigations ongoing into Seoul Police Chief and 'Doctor Car' lawmaker= In January, the Police Agency’s Special Investigation Headquarters sent Chief Kim to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office without detention on charges of professional negligence resulting in death or injury. Although he was responsible for security and policing in the Seoul area, he is accused of failing to prepare measures despite anticipating the crowd surge in Itaewon. Nine months after the referral, the prosecution has yet to decide whether to indict Chief Kim. Lawmaker Shin was involved in controversy for using the 'Doctor Car' of the Myeongji Hospital Disaster Medical Support Team to go to the scene on the day of the disaster. The police sent Shin to the prosecution in June on charges of violating the Emergency Medical Service Act. The prosecution is continuing the investigation.