Yoon, with a somber expression, pays respects at the joint memorial altar... Ruling and opposition leaders also mourn (Comprehensive)

-President Yoon also urged the day before, "Please carefully look after the families of the deceased and the injured"
-Ruling and opposition leaders visited the joint memorial altars at Seoul Plaza and Noksapyeong Station respectively to express condolences

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee are moving to pay tribute at the joint memorial altar set up at Seoul Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul, for the victims of the Itaewon tragedy on the 31st. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] President Yoon Seok-yeol visited the joint memorial altar set up at Seoul Plaza on the first day of the national mourning period for the Itaewon disaster on the 31st to pay tribute to the victims. President Yoon had announced in a national address the previous day that the mourning period would be set until November 5 and that the highest priority of state affairs would be placed on managing the accident and follow-up measures. The leadership of both ruling and opposition parties also visited the joint memorial altars at Seoul Plaza and Noksapyeong Station, respectively.

Dressed in a black suit and tie, President Yoon visited the joint memorial altar at Seoul Plaza with First Lady Kim Keon-hee at 9:27 a.m. that day, paying tribute to the victims with flower offerings, a moment of silence, and a bow, then stayed at the altar for about two minutes with a somber expression. Chief Presidential Secretary Kim Dae-ki, senior secretaries, and secretaries from the non-economic sector also joined to console and mourn the deceased.

After paying respects, President Yoon returned to the Yongsan Presidential Office building to hold a closed-door meeting with senior presidential secretaries and a regular meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. During the senior secretaries meeting and the regular meeting, President Yoon reiterated support for the bereaved families and the injured, and planned to receive real-time reports related to the accident in the afternoon and order countermeasures.

President Yoon stayed awake the entire first night after the disaster and, the previous night as well, urged his aides and officials from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) to thoroughly manage the accident. He specifically instructed careful attention to the bereaved families and the injured. President Yoon also emphasized the importance of "emergency treatment," stating, "Just as proper emergency treatment can save a patient's life, the outcome of accident management and measures can vary depending on how quickly the government mobilizes all its capabilities," and urged, "Please remember that we are public officials who bear unlimited responsibility for the safety of each and every citizen."

The atmosphere of mourning extended to the political sphere. Jeong Jin-seok, Chairman of the People Power Party Emergency Response Committee, visited the joint memorial altar at Seoul Plaza around 9:50 a.m. with Emergency Response Committee member Kim Sang-hoon and others. After the committee meeting, Chairman Jeong told reporters, "I believe now is the time to share sorrow and pray. It is not a time for interrogation but a time for mourning." The Emergency Response Committee had advised its members the previous day to refrain from external activities and be cautious with their words and actions regarding the Itaewon disaster. All members of the People Power Party, including floor leader Joo Ho-young, plan to pay respects at the memorial altar on the 1st.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and the party leadership decided to visit the joint memorial altar set up near Noksapyeong Station plaza. The Justice Party also canceled the inauguration event for the new leadership, including leader Lee Jeong-mi, scheduled for that day and plans to honor the victims at the joint memorial altar at Seoul Plaza.

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