The grieving relatives of the victims who tragically lost their lives in the devastating Halloween crush that occurred in Seoul last year, along with their steadfast supporters, have united in their demand for an autonomous investigation into the incident. This demand was the focal point of a poignant memorial service held on Sunday to mark the anniversary of the catastrophe.
The Halloween crush, widely considered one of the most significant peacetime disasters in South Korea, claimed the lives of 159 individuals, predominantly in their twenties and thirties. They had congregated in Itaewon, a bustling nightlife district in Seoul, to partake in Halloween festivities.
To honor the anniversary, the families paid a visit to the Itaewon area, where they laid flowers and expressed their condolences at the very location where the tragic incident unfolded. Some were overcome with grief, shedding tears near a wall adorned with numerous Post-it notes bearing messages of sympathy.
Song Jin Young, a father who lost a loved one, expressed his sorrow, saying, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you. I loved you."
Accompanied by their supporters, the families, while in Itaewon, participated in multi-faith prayer services dedicated to their departed loved ones. During these proceedings, they fervently chanted slogans, urging President Yoon Suk Yeol to issue a more heartfelt apology and calling for Safety Minister Lee Sang-min to resign in the aftermath of the disaster.
"Apologize! Apologize!" was their resounding cry.
The group subsequently embarked on a march through the streets of Seoul before converging at a public square for the memorial service, which drew thousands of attendees.
During his address, Lee Jeong-min, representing the families, implored President Yoon to lend his support to initiatives aimed at enacting a specialized law that would enable the launch of an autonomous investigation into the causes of the Itaewon disaster and the development of measures to prevent future recurrences.
"We did our utmost to raise our children, but we couldn't even touch them when they vanished all of a sudden. Where can we talk about our resentment toward this reality?" Lee expressed. "The special law would be the most important legislation to find the cause of the Itaewon disaster and discuss the prevention of recurrences of similar incidents."
Several opposition politicians, in their speeches, criticized President Yoon for his absence from the ceremony and pledged their commitment to enacting a specialized law that would seek to uncover the truth behind the tragic incident. While some participants reportedly jeered a ruling party official as he departed from the event, there were no reports of major altercations.
The memorial service concluded with the crowd uttering the words "We'll remember you" as the names of each of the 159 victims were read out. They also placed flowers in front of photographs of the deceased at an altar.
The families of the victims confirmed that they had extended an invitation to President Yoon to attend the memorial ceremony. However, he opted to participate in a service dedicated to the victims at a church in Seoul instead. While his office did not provide explicit reasons for his absence from the memorial, local media reports suggested that concerns related to the event potentially being utilized for political purposes influenced the decision.
During his speech at the church, President Yoon conveyed his profound sympathy to the families, stating that the day of the disaster marked the "greatest sadness" he had ever experienced. He pledged his commitment to fostering a safer South Korea.
In January, a specialized police investigation concluded that both the police and municipal officials had failed to formulate effective crowd control measures despite having correctly anticipated the large gathering in Itaewon. The investigators revealed that the police had also ignored hotline calls from pedestrians who had warned about the growing crowd prior to the surge that led to the tragic loss of lives.
More than 20 police officers and other officials are reportedly standing trial in connection with the disaster. However, no high-ranking officials have been charged or held accountable. This lack of accountability is a pivotal reason behind the families' and opposition lawmakers' call for an independent investigation.
This year's Halloween celebrations in South Korea were characterized by a subdued atmosphere, as most bars, restaurants, and shops refrained from hosting Halloween-themed events as a mark of respect for the victims. Only a small number of individuals were seen dressed in Halloween costumes in Itaewon and other major entertainment areas in Seoul on Friday and Saturday.
