Families, Religious Leaders, and Citizens Gather on the 1st Anniversary of the Itaewon Tragedy: "President Yoon Must Sincerely Apologize"

To commemorate the first anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy, bereaved families, religious leaders, and citizens gathered at the site of the disaster. They called for an apology from President Yoon Suk-yeol and the enactment of a special law on the Itaewon tragedy.

On the 29th, citizens are writing memorial messages on the 'Path of Memory and Safety' established in the alley where the Itaewon tragedy occurred. / Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

On the 29th, the Itaewon Tragedy Bereaved Families Association (the Association) and the Itaewon Tragedy Citizens’ Countermeasures Committee gathered around 2 p.m. in front of Itaewon Station of the Seoul subway to hold a prayer meeting involving the four major religions (Protestantism, Buddhism, Won Buddhism, and Catholicism). They then marched through the Yongsan Presidential Office and Seoul Station to Seoul Plaza. The number of participants in the march was 3,000 according to the assembly report.

They urged President Yoon to offer a sincere apology. Instead of attending the memorial rally, President Yoon delivered a condolence message at Yeongam Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, saying, "I pray for the souls of those who passed away in this unfortunate accident." Earlier, the Presidential Office stated, "Since the event is largely a political rally organized by the opposition party, President Yoon will not attend the memorial rally." Lee Yong-woo, Vice Chairman of the Association, said, "We are going to a memorial rally with citizens, not a political rally," adding, "Today, we want to fully mourn and grieve the victims. President Yoon should come before the portraits of the 159 victims, genuinely shed tears, and show an apology."

They also called for the enactment of the Itaewon Special Act. The Itaewon Special Act, which includes the establishment of a special investigation committee for fact-finding, has been designated as a fast-track bill but is still pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Lee Jung-min, an operating committee member of the Association, said, "The special law that can discuss the causes of the tragedy and prevent recurrence is the most important task," adding, "There is no ruling or opposition party in front of this tragedy; everyone must listen to the voice of the people."

On the 29th, the Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association and the Itaewon Disaster Citizens' Countermeasures Meeting gathered around 2 p.m. in front of Itaewon Station of the Seoul subway to hold a prayer meeting for the four major religions (Protestantism, Buddhism, Won Buddhism, and Catholicism). Monks reading the prayer text. / Photo by Gong Byung-seon mydillon@

Religious leaders comforted the victims, bereaved families, and survivors of the tragedy. Father Zacchaeus said, "We gathered to talk about the Itaewon tragedy as the pain of the 159 victims who became stars, the bereaved families, witnesses, local residents, and merchants," adding, "If tears come, we will cry; if we miss them, we will say so, and we will take one step at a time to change the government that seems unlikely to change." Seonwoo, a monk from the Jogye Order’s Social Labor Committee, said, "I hope President Yoon will hold on to the bereaved families who are filled with longing for those who left in vain and are struggling to endure each day." After the prayer meeting, the religious leaders laid flowers together with the bereaved families at the 'Path of Memory and Safety' created in the alley where the tragedy occurred.

The memorial rally is scheduled to take place around 5 p.m. at Seoul Plaza. Attendees include Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea; In Yo-han, Innovation Committee Chair of the People Power Party; Lee Jeong-mi, leader of the Justice Party; Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul; Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province; and Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.