Itaewon Tragedy as a Lesson... Gyeongnam Province Thoroughly Conducts Safety Inspections and Crowd Dispersion

Installation of Joint Memorial Altar in Front of DoCheong Square

Choi Man-rim, Deputy Governor, presiding over the meeting of deputy heads of cities and counties to strengthen safety management of festivals and events in Gyeongnam Province.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Gyeongsangnam-do held a meeting of deputy heads of cities and counties on the morning of the 31st to strengthen safety management of festivals and events within the province.

The meeting, chaired by Deputy Governor Choi Man-rim, was organized to enhance safety across the province in relation to the accident that occurred on the 29th in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

The meeting followed the Deputy Governor-City and County Deputy Heads meeting on the 30th to discuss safety measures for local festivals, and the cooperation briefing on local festival safety management measures chaired by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety with deputy heads from 17 cities and provinces.

Gyeongnam Province plans to significantly strengthen safety management for festivals and events held within the province during the national mourning period from October 30 to midnight of November 5.

Measures include ▲establishing step-by-step action plans to prepare for safety accidents ▲intensive inspections to prevent crowding by dispersing spectators at event venues ▲joint reinforcement of on-site accident response posture with safety-related agencies such as police and fire departments ▲promotion of safety inspections by city and county for local festivals as well as large-scale concerts and sports events to prepare for any possible safety accidents.

Memorial incense altar for the victims of the Itaewon accident set up in front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office. / Photo by Ryeong Lee

From the morning of the 31st until November 5, all cities, counties, and towns will fly flags at half-mast, and a joint memorial altar for the victims of the Itaewon accident will be installed and operated at the provincial government office.

On this day, Deputy Governor Choi said, “Please conduct thorough pre-event safety inspections for festivals and events scheduled in the region and strictly implement measures to disperse crowds in congested spaces,” adding, “I hope public service discipline will also be firmly established during the national mourning period.”

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