Seoul Holds Public Memorial on Gwanghwamun Square for Itaewon Tragedy

Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square will host a public memorial on Thursday to mark four years since the deadly Itaewon crowd crush that claimed 159 lives. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said roughly one-thousand participants, ranging from senior officials and National Assembly members to foreign diplomats and NGOs, are expected. The event, beginning at 10:29 a.m., will open with a minute of silence, followed by remarks from a government representative and the 1029 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association.

A special video will be screened and novelist Jeong Bo-ra will deliver a memorial reading. Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung used the occasion to promise stronger safety measures and a societal focus on protecting lives. The tragedy occurred on October 29, 2022, when about 100,000 young revelers gathered for Halloween and became trapped in a narrow alley, leading to the fatal crush.