1 November 2023
By Minseo Kim
It has been a year since the Itaewon Halloween crowd crush, yet unresolved issues still remain. Since there has been a consistent call to identify the specific causes of this tragedy, a special law for investigating the truth was proposed in April this year, but due to a lack of consensus in the parliament, all special investigations have come to a stop. The responsibility for the tragedy remains still in the grey area.
While identifying the causes and holding those responsible accountable, it is important to engage with the bereaved families and survivors. The families have emphasized the need for more people to freely share memories of the October 29th tragedy. In this regard, the 10/29 Tradegy Victims' Family Association organized a memorial event during this Halloween and set up a memorial space called “The Path of Memory and Safety” near Itaewon Station.
This societal mourning holds significance in acknowledging that the causes and consequences of the crowd crush, as well as the stories of those who experienced it, should not be forgotten. By reducing the tragedy to a mere personal misfortune, people can possibly overlook the responsibilities and roles of society. To identify the structural causes of the tragedy and help survivors fully recover, societal recognition and empathy are essential.
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