Seoul: The first joint commemoration by the government and the bereaved families was set to begin Saturday, as South Korea prepared to observe the third anniversary of the tragic crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon district.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a civil mourning event to honor the victims of the crowd crush will take place at Seoul Plaza later in the day. This event is being jointly hosted for the first time by the association of victims' families, a civic group focused on the disaster, and the Seoul metropolitan government, as stated by the interior ministry.
The tragic incident occurred during Halloween celebrations in a narrow alley of the nightlife neighborhood of Itaewon in Seoul's central ward of Yongsan on October 29, 2022. It resulted in the deaths of 159 people, including foreigners. The event's starting time, at 6:34 p.m., signifies the moment the first emergency call was made from the scene of the accident. A delayed response was a contributing factor to the high death toll.
Approximately 4,000 attendees, including Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, government officials, politicians, religious leaders, civic activists, and citizens, are expected to gather to mourn the deaths and offer solace to the families. This year's event will also see participation from around 40 bereaved family members from 12 countries, who are attending at the government's invitation.
Earlier in the day, four religious groups were scheduled to conduct a joint prayer session at the disaster site in Itaewon, followed by a mass march to Seoul Plaza. The main event will commence with the joint calling of the victims' names, followed by a moment of silence, a commemorative speech by the prime minister, and a concert in memory of those who lost their lives.
On the actual third anniversary next Wednesday, the government will organize a separate mourning event at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. This event will be attended by government representatives and bereaved family members and will feature a one-minute siren across the city to mark the solemn occasion.