Itaewon crowd crush families march through Seoul ahead of 4th anniversary

Joint police-prosecution investigative team disbanded; police special unit to continue probe

Participants pause at Gwanghwamun Square during a downtown march organized by the Itaewon Disaster Citizens' Response Committee on Saturday, chanting slogans demanding a full investigation into the Itaewon crowd crush. [Yonhap]

Families of victims of the Itaewon crowd crush took to the streets of central Seoul on Saturday, demanding a full investigation and punishment of those responsible as the fourth anniversary of the disaster approaches. With the investigation into the cause and accountability still ongoing nearly four years after the tragedy, the bereaved families appealed for the creation of a safer society to prevent a recurrence.

About 100 people, including members of the Oct. 29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association and the Itaewon Disaster Citizens' Response Committee, set off at 10:29 a.m. Saturday from "House of Stars," a memorial and community space for the Itaewon crowd crush located in the Jeokseon Hyundai Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. They marched through Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul Plaza and Euljiro toward Myeong-dong.

Lee Jeong-min, chair of the bereaved families association, spoke at House of Stars before the march. "It feels like just yesterday that we were pouring out our grief after the disaster, and yet four years have already passed while we kept telling ourselves, 'Surely the truth will come out this year,'" she said. "I sincerely hope that the truth is clearly and definitively established, so that this society never has to suffer such pain again."

She added that Saturday's march was "an appeal to make South Korea a safe society."

Participants in a downtown march marking the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush pass in front of the Government Complex Seoul on Saturday, having departed from House of Stars, a memorial and community space in Jongno-gu. [Yonhap]

Marchers chanted slogans including "Punish those responsible for the Itaewon disaster" and "Remember the disaster and build a safe society." They posted flyers around downtown advertising a public memorial ceremony set for Oct. 24 and handed out purple ribbons to passersby in honor of the victims.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety will co-host a public memorial ceremony with the bereaved families' group at Seoul Plaza at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 24. On Oct. 29, the day of the disaster, a "4th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony" will be held at Gwanghwamun Square at 10:29 a.m. About 1,000 people are expected to attend, including government officials, party leaders, lawmakers and members of the public.

The joint police-prosecution investigative team that had been probing the cause of the disaster disbanded on Sept. 30 following the implementation of a revised Code of Criminal Procedure centered on the abolition of the prosecution service. The team had been formed at the Seoul Western District Public Prosecution Office on July 30 last year under the direction of President Lee Jae Myung. A police special investigative unit has since taken over the remaining investigation.

kacew@heraldcorp.com