[Gwangju Joint Memorial Altar and Online Memorial Site See Outpouring of Condolences After Aircraft Crash]

Honoring the Deceased with Flowers and Tributes on the Website
Five Thousand, Including Archbishop Ok Hyunjin, Pay Their Respects

Citizens visiting the "Jeju Air Passenger Plane Disaster Victims Joint Memorial Altar" set up at the 5·18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju, are paying tribute to the victims. Photo by Gwangju City

On the fourth day since the 'Jeju Air passenger plane disaster,' on the 1st, people continue to visit the joint memorial altar in Gwangju and the online memorial site to pay tribute to the victims.

The city of Gwangju has opened and is operating a 'cyber memorial altar' on its official website since May 31, allowing people to commemorate the victims of the Jeju Air disaster online. The cyber memorial altar provides a space where people can pay respects and honor the deceased by offering flowers online, regardless of time and place. Offering flowers does not require logging in. There is also a space where people can leave messages of condolence.

Citizens wrote condolence messages such as, "I hope you only take good memories of your travels with you," and "Although I cannot fathom the sorrow and pain of the bereaved families, I deeply mourn from the bottom of my heart," wishing for the victims' peaceful rest.

A wave of mourning also continued at the joint memorial altar set up at the May 18 Democracy Plaza. The city has been operating the joint memorial altar at the May 18 Democracy Plaza since May 30. Seventeen organizations, including the city government, Gwangju City Council, Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, the Democratic Party of Korea, and Gwangju civic groups, are jointly managing it.

These organizations manage and operate the joint memorial altar by guiding mourners, distributing flowers for offering, and maintaining the guestbook. The city of Gwangju has assigned 30 staff members to welcome mourners in shifts and serve as attendants throughout the mourning period. The altar is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

More than 5,000 people have paid their respects at the joint memorial altar, including Mayor Kang Gijung, Chairperson Shin Sujeong of the Gwangju City Council, the heads of the five district offices, Gu Jingqi, Consul General of China in Gwangju, Archbishop Ok Hyunjin of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju, and citizens.

Lee (15), whose classmate was among the victims, said, "A friend I used to talk and play with in the same class could not return because of this disaster," and added, "At the very least, I wanted to honor my friend's final journey by paying respects at the joint memorial altar."

Gu Jingqi, Consul General of China, stated, "Along with the Chinese Consulate General, all Chinese nationals living in Gwangju are also deeply saddened," and added, "I express my deepest condolences to the victims of the disaster and offer my sincere sympathy to the citizens of Gwangju and the bereaved families."

Archbishop Ok Hyunjin said, "I will pray to God the Father for the eternal rest of the deceased."

Mourners left messages in the guestbook at the joint memorial altar, such as, "You were like energy, like a vitamin to us. I wonder if you left so quickly to start anew in a happier place. Be happy and healthy there!" and "I hope you spend your days in a good place, free from worries."

Acts of kindness from volunteers are also continuing at the joint memorial altar. Various volunteer organizations, including the Korea Electric Power Corporation Social Volunteer Group and the Gwangju Nam-gu Volunteer Center, are providing warm drinks and fish cakes to mourners visiting the altar.