Over 30 bereaved foreign family members from 10 countries to attend; government ceremony set for Oct. 29 at Gwanghwamun Square
The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced Thursday that a civic memorial ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of the Oct. 29 Itaewon crowd crush will be held at Seoul City Hall Plaza on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
The event is jointly organized by the ministry, the Oct. 29 Itaewon Crowd Crush Bereaved Families Association, the Oct. 29 Itaewon Crowd Crush Citizens' Response Council and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. About 2,000 people are expected to attend, including Prime Minister Han Seong-sook, representatives of political parties and religious organizations, and members of the public.
As last year, more than 30 bereaved family members of foreign victims from 10 countries will also attend at the government's invitation.
Held under the theme "By the light of the stars, toward the truth," the ceremony will include a roll call of the names of all 160 victims, a moment of silence, memorial addresses, a commemorative video screening, remarks from foreign bereaved families and a memorial performance.
Han, who chairs the Itaewon Crowd Crush Victims' Memorial Committee, will deliver a memorial address offering condolences to the victims, their families and the bereaved. A representative of the Disaster Victims' Solidarity group will also read a memorial statement.
Singers Kim Sa-wol and Lee Han-cheol, along with the Peace Tree Choir, will perform, and five representatives of the citizens' response council will read a joint declaration.
Earlier that day, a prayer service organized by religious groups will be held at the site of the disaster at 1 p.m., followed by a memorial march to Seoul City Hall Plaza.
From 2 p.m., civic participation programs will run at Seoul City Hall Plaza, including a display of memorial messages, purple-star origami folding — the symbol of the commemoration — and the making of memorial keepsakes.
Foreign bereaved families visiting Korea will also take part in a communication event with domestic families, visits to memorial spaces including the victims' alma maters, and a press briefing for domestic and foreign media.
A separate government ceremony, the "Fourth Anniversary Memorial," will be held at Gwanghwamun Square on Oct. 29 at 10:29 a.m.
Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung said the presence and heartfelt participation of each citizen "will be the greatest comfort to the bereaved families and a beacon of hope for making our society safer," and urged the public to attend in person and share their warmth and remembrance.
thlee@heraldcorp.com
