"Keep Recalling Itaewon Scenes" ... Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Warning

The Korean Neuropsychiatric Association Warns of Nationwide Psychological Trauma
Avoid Sharing or Repeatedly Watching Accident-Related Videos

Access to the site of the Halloween crowd crush accident in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, is being restricted on the 31st. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] On the Saturday night before Halloween, as the Itaewon-dong area in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, suddenly turned into a disaster scene, there are concerns that not only those present at the scene, police officers, and firefighters but also ordinary citizens who continuously witnessed the disaster may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) trauma.

PTSD refers to a condition where a person experiences severe fear after going through serious events such as war, torture, natural disasters, or accidents, and continues to suffer from distress through repeated re-experiencing of the event afterward. This can lead to decreased concentration, impulse control disorders, depression, panic attacks, auditory hallucinations, substance abuse, and other symptoms that negatively affect normal social life.

At the time of the disaster, photos showing people receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while unconscious and rows of people covered with blankets were posted on social networking services (SNS) and online communities. Images captured the desperate attempts of stacked people seeking help from paramedics and the scenes of those being transported. The indiscriminate spread of photos and videos from the disaster scene has raised concerns that many viewers may suffer from feelings of depression or helplessness.

Citizens who viewed the photos and videos online have expressed pain and depression, saying things like "I can't sleep even when lying down" and "The images from the scene won't leave my mind." The rapid spread of these photos and videos was possible because the disaster occurred in the middle of Seoul, a place easily accessible to the public, allowing many to take and upload images from the scene.

On the 30th, the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association issued an emergency statement saying, "The large-scale loss of life has caused the public to experience another major psychological trauma," and explained, "The horrific videos and photos from the accident are being shared unfiltered on SNS, which can damage the honor of the deceased and victims, lead to secondary and tertiary harm, and cause psychological trauma to many people."

Experts appealed to stop sharing videos and photos from the disaster scene that could trigger psychological trauma. They also warned netizens, saying, "Do not look at many photos of the incident," and "You should access information about the incident through news rather than sensational SNS posts." A psychiatrist working in the field said on an online community, "Viewing photos alone is not a diagnostic criterion for PTSD, but repeatedly seeing images of the deceased can lead to PTSD."

On the morning of the 31st, psychiatrist Kim Ji-yong appeared on MBC Newsdesk and said, "Some cases recover naturally, but PTSD can persist for life or worsen, increasing the risk of depression or suicide, so early and active intervention is necessary," adding, "Even if you did not witness the scene directly, receiving news from acquaintances or exposure through media can also affect the brain."

He continued, "Especially children and adolescents are greatly affected, and repeated exposure to incident-related stimuli can become an obstacle to returning to daily life." He also emphasized, "There is a need for a mental health system for the bereaved families, eyewitnesses, and those who participated in rescue efforts related to this incident," and added, "After the Sewol Ferry incident, the National Trauma Center was established, and recovery support personnel are prepared at the National Mental Health Center."

Experts expressed concern for the mental health of firefighters and police officers, saying, "The feeling of guilt from not being able to save someone causes psychological distress." In fact, a post titled "I am a police officer who was dispatched to the Itaewon scene" was uploaded on the anonymous workplace community Blind. The author wrote, "The chaotic scene and the images of the deceased still do not leave my mind," and expressed self-blame, saying, "I am sorry I could not save more lives." A citizen who helped with CPR at the time also expressed sorrow, saying, "My hands and feet still tremble, and I cry."

Currently, the government has announced mental health measures for bereaved families and the injured. On the 30th, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced that a psychological support team for the Itaewon accident would be formed and operated within the National Trauma Center to provide psychological treatment for the families of the injured.

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