Foreign affairs minister announces plans to offer support to foreign victims of Itaewon crush

Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin said Monday that the government is reviewing ways to offer equal support to the families of foreigners who lost their lives in the Itaewon crowd crush on Oct. 29.

Foreign Minister Park Jin speaks to a meeting of the National Assembly's foreign affairs committee on Monday. [NEWS1]

Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin said Monday that the government is reviewing ways to offer equal support to the families of foreigners who lost their lives in the Itaewon crowd crush on Oct. 29.

“The ministry is reviewing ways to provide equal support for foreign victims,” the minister said in a meeting of the National Assembly’s foreign affairs committee on Monday.

“One ministry official has been assigned to each of these victims so that the necessary support will be made, including providing support to the surviving families.”

The minister said a total of 26 foreigners died from the crowd crush, and 14 out of the 15 injured have been discharged from the hospital, with one still receiving treatment.

“We have held emergency meetings four times to check on the situation after the incident occurred, and immediately notified the embassies that are directly affected by the tragedy.”

The minister sent out letters of condolence to the heads of these foreign diplomatic offices.

Foreigners can contact the embassy’s call center to report those missing, he added.

Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, who attended the meeting, also offered his condolences.

“We send deep condolences to the surviving family members of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident that took place in Itaewon over the weekend,” the minister said.

“We hope that those who have been injured will recover soon and that the government does its best to deal with the tragedy.”

BY HA SU-YOUNG [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]