Itaewon Disaster Memorial Ceremony to Be Held on the 29th... Sirens to Sound at 10:29 a.m.

One-Minute Siren Across Seoul... Moment of Silence
Government Representative to Attend for the First Time on Third Anniversary

The 3rd anniversary memorial ceremony for the 10·29 Itaewon disaster will be held on the 29th at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 28th that, in commemoration of the 3rd anniversary of the Itaewon disaster, it will jointly hold the memorial ceremony with the 10·29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association, the 10·29 Itaewon Disaster Citizens’ Countermeasures Committee, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

On the 27th, ahead of the first anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy, citizens are passing by the '10.29 Path of Memory and Safety' near Itaewon Station in Seoul. 2023.10.27 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Kim Minseok, the Prime Minister, will attend the ceremony as the government representative. This marks the first time a government representative has participated in the Itaewon disaster memorial ceremony. In addition, National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik, leaders of political parties and religious organizations, civic groups, and members of the general public are expected to attend.

The memorial ceremony will begin at 10:29 a.m. with a moment of silence for the victims, accompanied by memorial sirens sounding throughout Seoul. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety stated that the sirens will sound for one minute at 10:29 a.m. on the 29th and asked Seoul citizens not to be alarmed and to join in the moment of silence to honor the victims.

Following a greeting from Song Haejin, the executive director of the Bereaved Families Association, Speaker Woo, Song Gichun, chairperson of the 10·29 Itaewon Disaster Special Investigation Committee, and actress Moon Sori will read memorial addresses.

The memorial video will look back on the three years since the disaster, pledging genuine mourning and a commitment to uncovering the truth. A representative of the bereaved families of foreign victims will read a memorial message. Poet Park Soran will recite a memorial poem, and singer Ahn Yeeun will honor the victims by performing the songs "Sangsahwa" and "Mangaehwa."

Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Hojung stated, "This 3rd anniversary memorial ceremony is the first official government memorial jointly prepared by the government and the bereaved families. The government will continue to remember the victims who lost their precious lives in Itaewon and will share and embrace the pain experienced by their families."