'Itaewon Tragedy' Joint Memorial in Seoul Visited by Over 110,000 People in 6 Days

Noksapyeong Station Joint Memorial Altar Extended Operation Until the 12th

On the 5th, the last day of the mourning period for the Itaewon tragedy, mourners waiting to pay their respects at the joint memorial altar set up in Seoul Plaza. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] Nearly 110,000 mourners visited the joint memorial altar for the victims of the Itaewon tragedy over six days.

According to Seoul City on the 5th, since the memorial altars were set up at Seoul Plaza and in 25 autonomous districts on October 31, a total of 109,193 people had paid their respects by 5 p.m. that day. The Seoul Plaza altar saw 35,429 visitors, while the 25 district altars had 73,764 visitors.

The daily number of mourners at all altars was 19,187 on the first day, October 31; 20,632 on November 1; 21,237 on the 2nd; 15,654 on the 3rd; and 15,486 on the 4th. On the 5th, 11,597 people had paid respects by 5 p.m. The estimated cumulative total by midnight is expected to exceed 110,000.

Over the six days, various figures from all walks of life visited the Seoul Plaza altar. President Yoon Suk-yeol paid his respects there on October 31 and from November 2 to 5. On the 1st, he visited the memorial altar at Noksapyeong Station Plaza in Yongsan-gu.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also visited the Seoul Plaza altar on October 31 and from November 2 to 5 to mourn the victims. Numerous political figures, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, ministers from various departments, People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Chung Jin-seok, and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, also paid their respects. Key figures from the business and religious communities continued to visit as well.

The diplomatic corps in Korea, including German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, and Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin, also joined the line of mourners.

Most memorial altars, including the joint altar at Seoul Plaza, will cease operations on the last day of the national mourning period, the 5th. However, the joint altar set up at Noksapyeong Station Plaza in Yongsan-gu will remain open until the 12th.

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