Sirens, tears mark gov't's first official memorial for Itaewon tragedy as families and public gather

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, together with the Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Council and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, held a memorial ceremony marking the third anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush on Wednesday.

Families of victims of the Oct. 29, 2022 Itaewon crowd crush are seen attending a memorial ceremony held at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno District, central Seoul on Oct. 29. [YONHAP]

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, together with the Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Council and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, held a memorial ceremony marking the third anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush on Wednesday.

Sirens sounded across Seoul as the city paused to remember the victims. As the sirens rang out, around 2,000 people — including bereaved families from Korea and abroad and members of the public — stood in silence at Gwanghwamun Square.

It was the government’s first official memorial ceremony held jointly with the victims’ families since the tragedy.

“If only the sirens had sounded that night... How lonely they must have been, with no one there to protect them,” said a 69-year-old attendee surnamed Park, as the sirens began at 10:29 a.m.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok attended on behalf of the government, and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik delivered a tribute.

“At first, I didn’t know how to face the families, so I volunteered to help them,” said a 65-year-old surnamed Kim who said that they had attended the first and second anniversary memorials. “Now that the government has apologized and joined the remembrance, I finally feel a little more at peace this year.”

Families of victims of the Oct. 29, 2022 Itaewon crowd crush are seen during a memorial ceremony held at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno District, central Seoul on Oct. 29. [YONHAP]

Despite the chilly weather, about 500 citizens attended the ceremony, while many passersby stopped to watch in silence. Mourners held leaflets reading “With the stars, in truth and justice,” and wore badges inscribed with “10.29.”

“I love festivals too — I could have been in Itaewon that night,” said a graduate student in her 30s.

President Lee Jae Myung, who was attending the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju, delivered his tribute via video message.

“We can never forget the horror of that day, when a place meant for joy turned into a scene of chaos in an instant,” Lee said. “As president, I once again offer my deepest apology to the bereaved families and to the people of our nation,” he added, bowing his head.

Parents of the late Stine Evensen, a Norwegian victim of the Oct. 29, 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, are seen in tears during a memorial ceremony held at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno District, central Seoul on Oct. 29. [WOO SANG-JO]

“If the state had fulfilled its most basic duty to protect the lives of its citizens, the 159 victims would still be living their tomorrows with us today,” said Song Hae-jin, mother of the late Lee Jae-hyun and an executive member of the Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Council. “For three years we were ignored by the government. That must change now.”

“I came to Korea for the anniversary last October, and I learned that the Korean parents have been fighting for a whole year,” said Susanna Evensen, mother of Norwegian victim Stine Evensen, in tears. “I believe in the love that connects us beyond borders.”

In a joint statement, the Itaewon Disaster Citizens’ Committee said, “This third anniversary marks another beginning toward a safer society. We will continue working to uncover the full truth of the Itaewon disaster and to build a society that protects life and dignity.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. BY MOON SANG-HYEOK [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]