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CatastropheSouth Korea

South Korea commemorates first anniversary of Itaewon crush

October 30, 2023

Relatives of the young victims said their pain has not subsided. Attendees at the event demanded that senior officials be held accountable over the disaster, which killed 159 people.

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Attendees at the Itaewon crush anniversary event in Seoul
Thousands of people turned up to commemorate the victims and demand government accountabilityImage: Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo/picture alliance

Family and friends of those who died in the last year's Halloween crush in Seoul marked the first anniversary of the devastating event on Sunday.

A total of 159 people — mostly in their 20s and 30s — died in the crush, which happened amid Halloween festivities in the popular Itaewon nightlife district.

At the anniversary, thousands of attendees marched through the streets and later shouted "We'll remember you" as the victims' names were called.

A man and a woman crying as they place flowers in front of a photo of one of the victims of the Itaewon crush
Relatives of the victims placed flowers at an altar at the eventImage: Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo/picture alliance

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you. I loved you," said Song Jin Young, the father of one of the victims.

Cho Mi-eun, whose 24-year-old son died in the crush, said she experienced depression because she had been unable to mourn his death.

"As time goes by, my sadness only deepens, my longing grows, and my anger also seems to deepen," she told the AFP news agency after visiting her son's remains.

Yoon a no-show

Attendees also demanded South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol offer a more sincere apology, chanting "Apologize! Apologize!" during the event.

The families of the victims said they had invited Yoon to the memorial ceremony but he did not turn up.

Instead, he attended a service for the victims at a church in Seoul.

An aerial shot of attendees marching through the street wearing purple
Attendees called on President Yoon Suk Yeol to apologize over the disasterImage: Chris Jung/NurPhoto/picture alliance

"This day last year was the saddest day of my life, and I believe everyone in South Korea feels the same way as me," Yoon said during a speech at the church.

Commemorating the anniversary, the families visited the Itaewon area, while attendees also called on Safety Minister Lee Sang-min to resign over the disaster.

In January, a police special investigation found that police and local officials anticipated a large turnout on Halloween but failed to implement effective crowd control measures. It also found that police had ignored hotline phone calls by concerned pedestrians warning about the swelling crowds.

A woman standing before a wall covered in sticky notes
Families of the victims have also called for an independent probeImage: Lee Kitae/Matrix Images/picture alliance

Although more than 20 police and officials are reportedly on trial over the disaster, so far no top-level officials have been held accountable.

Families of the victims and opposition lawmakers have called for an independent investigation.

zc/jsi (AFP, AP)

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Witnesses recall the moments as more than 150 were killed in a crowd surge during Halloween festivities in the Seoul district of Itaewon. South Korea has begun a period of national mourning. Warning: This video contains footage some may find distressing.
SocietyOctober 30, 202202:22 min