Seoul – This Saturday, South Korea will hold its first joint memorial for the victims of the Itaewon crowd crush, as the country remembers the third anniversary of the tragedy that left 159 people dead, including many foreigners.
The ceremony will start at 6:34 p.m. in Seoul Plaza, the exact time the first emergency call rang from the narrow alley in the nightlife‑packed Itaewon district on Halloween 2022. The late response is a key reason the toll rose so high, Yonhap reports.
More than 4,000 people are expected to attend. The crowd will include Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok, government officials, politicians, religious leaders, civic activists, and families who lost loved ones. About 40 bereaved relatives from 12 countries will also be there, invited by the government to share in the commemoration.
Before the main event, four religious groups will hold a joint prayer session at the crash site, followed by a mass march to Seoul Plaza. The ceremony will begin with the names of all 159 victims read aloud, followed by a moment of silence. Prime Minister Kim will deliver a speech, and a concert celebrating the victims’ memories will follow.
At the end of the day, the government will host another mourning ceremony at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. Government representatives and family members will gather for a one‑minute siren that will echo across the city next Wednesday, the day of the third anniversary.
This event marks an important step for South Korea as it holds its first public memorial featuring both the government and bereaved families, offering a shared space for grief and remembrance.
Source: ianslive
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