Soul Halloween Crush Supporters Demand Investigation During Memorial
A year after the devastating Halloween crush in Seoul that claimed 159 lives, bereaved relatives and their supporters gathered to commemorate the anniversary and demanded an independent investigation into the disaster. This tragic event remains one of the most significant peacetime disasters in South Korea’s history, leaving a profound impact on the nation (Source: US News.)
Most of the victims were in their 20s and 30s and had gathered in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, to celebrate Halloween. To mark the anniversary, families of the victims visited the Itaewon area, where the incident occurred. They laid flowers, paid their respects, and expressed their grief near a wall covered with condolence messages on post-it notes.
During their visit to Itaewon, accompanied by their supporters, the families also participated in multi-faith prayer services for their loved ones. They chanted slogans calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol to offer a more sincere apology and for Safety Minister Lee Sang-min to resign over the disaster. The crowd shouted, “Apologize! Apologize!”
The families and their supporters then marched through Seoul before gathering in a square for a memorial service, which drew thousands of attendees. In his speech, Lee Jeong-min, a representative for the families, urged President Yoon to support efforts to pass a special law that would enable an independent investigation into the disaster.
The families expressed their deep sorrow and frustration over their loss, highlighting the need to understand the cause of the Itaewon disaster and prevent similar incidents from recurring. Several opposition politicians also criticized President Yoon for not attending the ceremony and pledged to pass a special law to uncover the truth behind the tragedy.
While there were reports of jeers directed at a ruling party official when he left the ceremony, there were no significant incidents of violence.
The memorial service concluded with the crowd chanting “We’ll remember you” as the names of each of the victims were called. Flowers were placed before the photos of the deceased at an altar.
The victims’ families had invited President Yoon to the memorial ceremony, but he chose to attend a service for the victims at a Seoul church instead. While Yoon’s office did not provide an explicit reason for his absence, local media reported concerns that the event might be used for political purposes by his rivals.
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