Seoul Plaza Itaewon Tragedy Memorial Altar Relocated to Nearby Building

Starting from the 16th, operations will be held on the 1st floor of Burim Building
Bereaved families also agree to pay compensation for occupying Seoul Plaza

The Itaewon Disaster memorial altar, which was set up at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, will be relocated to a nearby building.

On the 5th, Seoul City announced that it had reached an agreement with the bereaved families to move the Itaewon Disaster memorial altar at Seoul Plaza on the 16th. The families will establish a temporary memory and communication space on the first floor indoor area of Burim Building near City Hall, which will be operated until November 2.

On the morning of January 30, a family member of a victim lights a candle at the memorial altar for the Itaewon disaster victims at Seoul City Hall. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

Previously, the bereaved families had installed and operated the memorial altar at Seoul Plaza since February 4 of last year. Since then, 54 rounds of consultations have been held between the city and the families. The city explained, "Based on mutual trust in each other's sincerity, it was finally agreed that the memorial altar at Seoul Plaza would be voluntarily relocated on the 16th, one day before the 500th day since its establishment."

The bereaved families also agreed to pay the compensation fees imposed for occupying Seoul Plaza. This payment covers the second compensation fee. The first compensation fee of 28,992,000 KRW was paid before the first anniversary memorial event of the disaster on October 22 last year.

Jung Sang-hoon, Director of Seoul City's Welfare Policy Office, said, "We are glad to provide the bereaved families with a stable space for mourning and communication, and to fully return Seoul Plaza to the citizens. We thank the families and will do our best to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to the city, including relief and support for victims, in accordance with the 'Special Act on Guaranteeing the Rights of Victims, Fact-Finding, and Prevention of Recurrence of the 10·29 Itaewon Disaster.'"