[Report] "Who Understands the Heart After Losing Family in 3 Years of Corona?" Joint Memorial Altar for COVID-19 Vaccine Victims in the City Center

Citizen Groups Operate Joint Memorial Altars Since Last Month
"Established National Joint Memorial Altars to Ease the Pain of Victims and Bereaved Families"
Jung-gu Office Notifies "Illegal Road Occupation... Voluntarily Remove"

Joint memorial altar for COVID-19 victims set up on the sidewalk in front of the Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] "There was no state for the bereaved families who had to quietly and hastily hold funerals due to the social perception that they were the main culprits of the Nth wave spread of COVID-19."

At 11 a.m. on the 4th, a 'COVID Disaster Victims Memorial Ceremony' was held in front of a white tent installed on the sidewalk in front of the Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul. This site, where the memorial ceremony took place, was set up last month by the COVID-19 Truth Investigation Citizens' Coalition (Cojinyeon) as a joint incense-burning altar to commemorate victims who died from COVID-19 and vaccination.

Inside the installed white tent, portrait photos honoring COVID victims, vaccine victims, and self-employed people affected by COVID were placed. Members of Cojinyeon take turns guarding this place 24 hours a day. They even spent the recent Lunar New Year holiday here.

Dr. Choi Seong-hwan, a psychiatrist affiliated with Cojinyeon, opened by saying, "I cannot help but feel sorrow and heartache about the reality of our country. I only feel sorry for the victims and those affected by COVID." He continued, "Whether it is the current or the next government of the Republic of Korea, we will maintain this incense altar until the end with the hope that such unfortunate events will never happen again."

Cojinyeon's demands include ▲ the establishment of a government joint incense altar for COVID victims ▲ sufficient compensation for COVID victims ▲ and the prompt enactment of a special COVID law. They stated, "We have set up a national joint incense altar to alleviate the suffering of millions of victims," and made these demands.

Cojinyeon supports not only those who died from COVID-19 vaccination but also COVID-19 victims and self-employed people affected by COVID-19 prevention measures. A Cojinyeon official explained, "We provide free medical support and counseling for those suffering from vaccine side effects. We also offer job placement and legal support for COVID victims facing financial difficulties. Lastly, we are requesting the political sphere to enact a special COVID law."

At 11 a.m. on the 4th, members of the Citizens' Coalition for COVID-19 Truth (Cojinyeon) are observing a moment of silence for the victims of COVID-19. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

Last month, Jung-gu Office sent a notice recommending voluntary removal citing 'illegal road occupation.' Cojinyeon argues that since they reported the assembly to the Seoul Namdaemun Police Station, it is a 'legal installation' and is resisting this.

A Cojinyeon official said, "We received another notice requesting voluntary removal by midnight today (the 4th). However, we reported the assembly to Namdaemun Police Station and applied for more than five tents here. We have not broken any laws," adding, "We plan to operate the incense altar indefinitely until the government conducts a full investigation and establishes measures for damages caused by COVID-19 vaccines. We will resolve this through dialogue."

Meanwhile, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases has been increasing for the fourth consecutive day at the highest scale. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 4th, as of midnight, the number of new confirmed cases increased by 27,443 from the previous day, reaching a cumulative total of 934,656.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, the Vaccination Damage Investigation Committee has reviewed a total of 5,031 cases in 48 meetings so far, recognizing causality in 796 cases including 2 deaths, 5 severe cases, and 789 anaphylaxis cases.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.