Online Memorial Service Also Available from the 5th
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will extend the operation of the joint memorial altar for the victims of the Jeju Air passenger plane accident until the 10th.
The city announced on the 3rd that it has decided to operate the joint memorial altar in front of the main entrance of Seoul City Hall, which was originally scheduled to be open until the 4th, until 10 PM on the 10th, in response to requests from the bereaved families.
On the 31st, citizens are paying their respects at the joint memorial altar for the victims of the Jeju Air passenger plane accident set up in front of Seoul City Hall. Photo by Heo Young-han
The joint memorial altar, which began operation on the 31st of last month, had 23,567 citizens paying their respects as of 10 PM the previous day. Starting with 9,102 visitors on the first day, 9,684 people visited the altar on January 1st, welcoming the New Year. The previous day saw 4,781 visitors.
The operating hours of the Seoul City Hall joint memorial altar are from 8 AM to 10 PM, but citizens can pay their respects voluntarily outside these hours as well. From 8 AM on the 5th, an online memorial altar will also be available. It can be accessed by clicking the banner at the top of the main page of the Seoul City Hall website, where visitors can offer virtual flowers and leave condolence messages.
A "Mind Comfort Bus" is also operating near the memorial altar. The bus is staffed with mental health professional counselors who provide psychological counseling related to trauma.
Lee Dong-ryul, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Administration Bureau, said, "We hope that the operation of the Seoul City joint memorial altar will help fill the emptiness of the bereaved families even a little," and added, "We will operate the memorial altar so that citizens can pay their respects safely."
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