30th Anniversary Memorial for Sampoong Department Store Disaster: "Longing Deepens with Time"

A memorial service was solemnly held on the 29th to honor the victims and bereaved families on the 30th anniversary of the Sampoong Department Store collapse disaster.

On the 30th anniversary of the Sampoong Department Store collapse disaster on the 29th, Son Youngsu, chairman of the Sampoong Department Store Collapse Disaster Bereaved Families Association, delivered a greeting at the memorial service held at the Sampoong Disaster Memorial Tower in Maehun Citizens' Forest, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

The memorial ceremony took place in the morning at the Sampoong Disaster Memorial Tower in Maehun Citizens' Forest, Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Attendees included bereaved families of the Sampoong Department Store disaster, as well as families affected by other tragedies such as the 4·16 Sewol ferry disaster and the sinking of the Stella Daisy, who came to offer their condolences.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonsik, along with National Assembly members Park Jumin of the Democratic Party and Yong Hyein of the Basic Income Party, were also present at the event.

Along the path leading to the memorial tower, pink pinwheels symbolizing the 502 victims were installed. Heart-shaped installations bearing the names and birthdates of the victims were also seen throughout the area. All of these were carefully prepared by the bereaved families association the day before.

A representative of the association explained, "We chose pink as the symbolic color of the disaster, considering that the exterior of Sampoong Department Store was pink at the time." The bereaved families placed carefully prepared bouquets and white chrysanthemums, finally shedding the tears they had held back. The area in front of the memorial tower quickly filled with bouquets prepared by the families.

In his memorial address, Son Youngsu, chairman of the bereaved families association, said, "Thirty years have passed since that horrific day, but as time goes by, our longing only deepens. The findings of the survey released today clearly show how severe the suffering has been."

He pointed out, "This disaster, which claimed 502 lives, was a man-made tragedy caused by reckless structural alterations and the negligence of those responsible for oversight and management. Yet, even now, proper punishment has not been carried out. Even the memorial monument is not being properly maintained."

On the 30th anniversary of the Sampoong Department Store collapse disaster on the 29th, Woo Wonsik, Speaker of the National Assembly, attended the memorial ceremony held at the Sampoong Disaster Memorial Tower in Maehun Citizens' Forest, Seocho-gu, Seoul, and delivered a memorial address. Photo by Yonhap News

Before delivering his memorial address, National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonsik shared a personal story related to the disaster.

Speaker Woo said, "At the time, my mother-in-law and her family ran a hanbok business at Sampoong Department Store. They all survived because they were out making deliveries, but not knowing this, my wife and I spent half a day frantically searching for them. I still cannot forget that experience."

He added, "As Speaker of the National Assembly, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. I will do my utmost to fulfill my role and will work to bring together the capabilities of the National Assembly so that the Basic Law on Life and Safety is enacted during the 22nd National Assembly."

Kim Jonggi, head of the Disaster Victims Solidarity Network, said, "Thirty years have passed since the Sampoong disaster, but similar tragedies continue to occur. The country must change to one that uncovers the truth behind disasters, strictly punishes those responsible, and establishes measures to prevent recurrence."

At the memorial service, the results of the "30th Anniversary Survey of the Sampoong Department Store Collapse Disaster Bereaved Families" were also announced. The survey found that 6 out of 10 respondents (63.3%) still suffer from post-traumatic embitterment disorder (PTED). All bereaved family members responded that the punishment of those responsible was inadequate, and more than half were dissatisfied with the current memorial space located in Yangjae Citizens' Forest. The families called for psychological support for bereaved families, increased government and local government responsibility for memorial spaces, and the installation of a memorial marker for the missing at Noeul Park in Nanjido.