Parents Weep Over Daughter's Death in 'Itaewon Tragedy'... Tears Flood Gwangju Funeral Hall

Staring Endlessly at the Portrait Photo, Unable to Hide Emptiness... Tears Flowing Relentlessly

Friends Also Walk Heavily... Holding Back Tears, Saying Final Goodbye with a Letter Written with Great Care

The funeral hall in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, where the mourning room for the victims who passed away in the Itaewon crush accident on the 31st has been set up.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] On the afternoon of the 31st, the funeral hall in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, where the memorial service for the victims who lost their lives in the 'Itaewon crowd crush accident' was held, was filled with sorrow.

The bereaved families endlessly gazed at the portrait photos of their 20-year-old daughters, who they had to part with suddenly, or sat down heavily in front of them, wiping away their flowing tears.

When friends of the victims appeared to visit, they reflexively lifted their heavy bodies but then collapsed back down again.

The reception room was mostly filled with people in their 20s who appeared to be friends of the deceased. Around them were many wet tissues used to wipe away tears.

At one table, a group was seen writing letters with trembling hands, writing each word carefully. They sometimes looked up blankly into the air as if recalling memories with friends they can no longer meet, and their hands holding the pen trembled so much that sometimes they could barely write.

While wiping away tears with their sleeves and writing letters, they occasionally covered their faces with their arms and sobbed while leaning forward.

One friend said, "It's so hard that I can't say anything," and added, "I miss my friend so much and feel so lonely."

At the entrance of the funeral hall, condolence wreaths bearing the names of Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung and local members of the National Assembly were placed, and visitors from the local district office and others came and went frequently.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that six Gwangju citizens (including residents, people with ties, and residents) have died in the Itaewon disaster so far.

In Jeonnam, it was reported that three people died, including one resident of Jangseong and two residents of Mokpo.

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