Groups spring up demanding justice for Itaewon victims

Members of the organization demanding a proper response to the Oct. 29 Itaewon crowd crush in Daejeon hold a news conference in front of Daejeon City Hall on Monday. [YONHAP]

A regional unit of an organization demanding a proper response to the Oct. 29 Itaewon crowd crush was launched in Daejeon on Monday.

The Oct. 29 Itaewon Disaster Countermeasures Organization of Daejeon was formed by 47 civic, social and religious groups and political parties in Korea’s central city, and held a press conference in front of Daejeon City Hall on Monday with a group of 97 relatives of victims of the tragedy.

The two groups urged the government to determine who was responsible and restore the honor of the victims.

“Following the Itaewon disaster, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration attributed the responsibility to front-line officials and carried out cosmetic measures such as operating a memorial altar unilaterally without the consent of the bereaved families,” the Daejeon countermeasures organization said in a statement.

“Even though the government knew in advance that more crowds would gather following eased Covid-19 measures, it did not take proper measures after receiving a number of calls warning of a crowd crush,” the organization said.

The two groups expressed anger over remarks by Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, a lawmaker from Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP).

Kweon wrote on Facebook Saturday that the disaster in Itaewon “should not go down the same path as the Sewol ferry, which took advantage of the tragedy for financial gains.” The Sewol sank off the coast of Jindo in 2014, killing more than 300 passengers, mostly high school students.

“Don't bring [our demands] into a political dispute,” the consultative group said. “Rep. Kwon's remarks are dividing the public into two and comprise a secondary victimization for the bereaved families.”

The Daejeon Countermeasures Organization started a mourning week in the region from Monday, which will end on Dec. 16.

On Dec. 15, the organization will hold a candlelight vigil in Daejeon and open a makeshift memorial altar. It also plans to provide a meeting space and psychological treatment for victims' relatives in Daejeon.

The group of victims' relatives will host a memorial service with about 10,000 people on Dec. 16 at Itaewon Station.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]