At the first anniversary memorial service of the Itaewon tragedy, bereaved families are seen shedding tears. Foreign family members are also noticeably present. Photo by NJT

One Year Anniversary of Itaewon Tragedy Draws Political Controversy

By Byung Kee Park

Seoul, South Korea — On the first anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol chose not to attend the memorial ceremony. Instead, he attended a commemorative service at Youngam Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. At the service, President Yoon expressed his deep sorrow, calling that day "the saddest day of my life" and pledging to ensure that South Korea is safe so that such sacrifices would not be in vain.

Critics argue that President Yoon's actions lacked sincerity. While around 300 family members of the victims gathered for the memorial at the Seoul City Hall Plaza, President Yoon opted to attend a service at a church he frequented during his youth, which had no direct connection to the tragedy.

The central question arose: for whom and for what purpose was the service held? Would God accept such a service? It is believed that God would have wanted President Yoon to comfort and embrace the grieving families at Seoul City Hall.

Amid these events, both the ruling party and the opposition have faced scrutiny. While the opposition leaders vowed to pass a "special law" in memory of the tragedy, the families of the victims and the general public are urging for both the special law and the disaster safety law to be enacted. The ongoing dispute between the two major political parties over which law to prioritize has disappointed the public.
 

At the first anniversary memorial service of the Itaewon tragedy, Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, and John Linton, the Innovation Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, were in attendance. However, Chairman John Linton attended not as a representative of his party but in a personal capacity. Photo by NJT.

Furthermore, no official representative from the main opposition party attended the first-anniversary memorial, which was seen as a glaring omission. While some members, such as John Linton, Yoo Ui-dong, and Lee Man-hee from the People Power Party, were present, they attended personally, distancing the party from any formal acknowledgment.

On the following day, major South Korean dailies, including Dong-a Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and Chosun Ilbo, criticized both President Yoon and the main political parties for their handling of the tragedy's aftermath. They highlighted the lack of progress in post-disaster measures and the absence of any significant political or moral accountability for the tragedy.

Dong-a Ilbo stated in its editorial, "While the President, Prime Minister, and the ruling party did express their condolences, their absence at the memorial event for the victims' families is regrettable. The Presidential Office explained that the memorial had transformed into a political rally attended by opposition parties and labor unions. While the Presidential Office might have feared an unexpected incident during the President's visit, his attendance could have been a step towards social integration and a clear acknowledgment of the nation's responsibility towards the disaster. In the end, the absence of the President and ruling party leaders gives an impression of avoiding an uncomfortable situation."

JoongAng Ilbo highlighted the government's inaction in its editorial. "Upon analysis with four experts on the progress of the 'Comprehensive Plan for National Safety System Reform,' it was found that only 13.4% of the 97 detailed tasks have been completed. Many of these completed tasks involved redundant formal discussions. The feasibility of fulfilling the 84 measures promised by 2027 remains uncertain. It's perplexing that even after 159 casualties, not a single individual has taken political or moral responsibility. While emphasis was placed on legal responsibility after the accident, the decision to proceed to trial regarding Kim Kwang-ho, the Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency who was charged with professional negligence resulting in death, hasn't been made even after a year. Does this mean that investigations are still ongoing?"

Chosun Ilbo, another major daily, expressed its concern and criticism: "A year after the Halloween tragedy, what needs to be done is to comfort the pain of the victims and their families and to establish preventive measures to ensure such an event doesn't recur. There's a need to correct the basic order and change public consciousness. However, the political realm, which should lead this change, is preoccupied with internal disputes, sidelining the relevant legislation. Despite experiencing major incidents like the Sewol Ferry disaster, nothing seems to have changed. If this continues, we cannot predict when the next tragedy like the Sewol or Halloween incident might strike."

At the first anniversary memorial service of the Itaewon tragedy, participants wrote messages on post-it notes. One participant wrote, ”I regret electing an incompetent government.” Photo by NJT

All three newspapers have underscored a pressing need for swift action and responsibility from the government to prevent further incidents and address the existing aftermath of the Itaewon tragedy.

Despite the criticism, hardcore supporters of President Yoon, colloquially known as "concrete supporters," continued their online activities, defending Yoon's actions. Some went so far as to blame the victims themselves, which many perceive as a secondary victimization of the families.

A netizen, identified as Choe****, commented on a JoongAng Ilbo editorial, questioning the nature of the victims' deaths and insinuating that those who attended the memorial were not "normal." Another netizen, Cals****, dismissively referred to the tragedy as an "accident," pinning the blame on those present during the incident rather than on any systemic failure or neglect.

A survey commissioned by News Tomato and conducted by Media Tomato last year, from October 31 to November 2, showed that 73.1% of the 1072 respondents believed that both the government and local authorities bore responsibility for the Itaewon tragedy. However, a staunch 20% of President Yoon's supporters held a contrary opinion, often deflecting blame onto the victims.