National Assembly holds Itaewon tragedy memorial event as lawmakers pledge to find truth

Tears fell from the eyes of survivors and victims' bereaved family members as they gathered at a somber memorial event to commemorate the second anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Tuesday.

The bereaved family members of safety accidents, which include the Itaewon crowd crush, place white chrysanthemum flowers in front of the victims' photos at a memorial ceremony held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Tuesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Tears fell from the eyes of survivors and victims' bereaved family members as they gathered at a somber memorial event to commemorate the second anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Tuesday.

During the memorial ceremony, lawmakers and the victims’ families pledged to unveil the truth behind the disaster through a separate probe led by a special committee dedicated to investigating the crowd crush, in an effort to find out who was responsible and why proper safety measures were not in place.

The crowd crush of Oct. 29, 2022, took place in a narrow alleyway in Itaewon, a popular nightlife area in central Seoul. It resulted in the deaths of 159 people, including 26 foreigners.

Song Ki-choon, chairperson of the special committee, promised that the investigation would “thoroughly uncover” why public safety measures were poorly prepared and would devise better public safety policies to prevent recurrences of safety accidents. He also said the probe would be more extensive and far-reaching than previous investigations done by police.

Song also vowed to extend support to foreign victims and their families by closely looking into how the victims' bodies had been repatriated to their countries. He also added that the committee would investigate secondary damage — blame and insults — inflicted on the survivors and victims.

Lee Jeong-min, a leader of an association for the bereaved families, said that secondary damage to the victim was a "terrible crime."

Lee, who lost his daughter in the tragedy, asked for parliamentary support to curb secondary damage. “A society where survivors are afraid of revealing themselves is abnormal and dysfunctional.” He said that the suicide of the tragedy's last victim, the 159th, was a consequence of secondary damage.

Lee Ju-hyun, survivor of the Itaewon crowd crush, speaks about her experiences during a memorial ceremony held at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

Lee Ju-hyun, a survivor, called for a “proactive investigation” in her testimony. She said she hopes the probe seeks out the survivors who remained silent in fear of social stigma and secondary damage and records their stories.

She also mentioned that survivors had to shoulder difficulties to prove the cause-and-effect relationship of the accident, as well as damage, by themselves in order to be registered as victims. She said this process could be another hurdle in preventing survivors from stepping forward.

Lee criticized the state assistance for the survivors, saying it was “insufficient.” She noted that she received six months of recovery support, a set of coloring tools and a water bottle, as well as a text message once a year.

Bereaved family members of the Itaewon crowd crush and lawmakers pay silent tribute to the victims at a memorial ceremony held at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

Lawmakers across the political aisle also came together to remember the victims.

Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-shik from the liberal Democratic Party (DP) apologized to the victims and their relatives "on behalf of the Korean parliament regarding the crowd crush when state accountability was absent.”

“We should remember the time when excitement for festivities turned into fear of death and when the sadness of losing friends and families transformed into rage and despair,” Woo said.

DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said that the National Assembly should unite to ensure the committee can conduct its probe properly, adding that political power plays should not hinder such efforts.

Park stressed the importance of the investigation, as “a lot of evidence showed that the accident was a man-made disaster caused by the malfunction of the national safety system.”

A bereaved family member of an Itaewon crowd crush victim stands in front of white chrysanthemum flowers laid for the victims at a memorial ceremony held at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Tuesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the conservative People Power Party, promised his party’s support for a damage relief committee and a committee to remember the victims, which are set to launch soon. Choo said the “nation exists to protect public safety and health,” adding that the government bears “indefinite responsibility.”

During the session, Chun Ha-ram, floor leader of the Reform Party, demanded a presidential apology. He also called for the replacement of Interior Minister Lee Sang-min with "someone who can guarantee public safety," to which the bereaved families applauded and clapped their hands. Chun said, “Korean politics should not regress back to 30 years ago,” adding that the relevant officials were held accountable for the 1994 Seongsu Bridge collapse.

The memorial ceremony ended with hundreds of white chrysanthemum flowers being laid in front of photos of the victims, with the tears from family members continuing.

On the same day, President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed his “condolences to the bereaved families who have to live with the sadness of losing their family members” during a Cabinet meeting.

Yoon said, “Building a safe society and letting people enjoy their everyday lives stands as true condolences to the victims.” He also asked authorities to review and improve measures for crowd safety.

Bereaved families of the deadly Itaewon crowd crush shed tears during a memorial ceremony held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul on Tuesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]