[The Editors' Verdict] Let's Create a Memorial Space at the Site of the 'Itaewon Tragedy'

Sites of Tragedy Avoided Rather Than Remembered
Transforming Them into Spaces for Mourning, Remembrance, and Commitment

On the 29th, about a month after the 'Itaewon Disaster' occurred, a plastic cover to protect against rain was placed over the memorial space set up at the Itaewon disaster site in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy, So Jong-seop, Trend & Weekend Managing Editor] It has been a month since the Itaewon tragedy (hereinafter the 10.29 tragedy) occurred. It was an unprecedented incident where 158 people were crushed to death in the heart of the global city Seoul, yet no one has taken responsibility so far. Why did the accident happen? Why were no measures taken despite warning signs being detected beforehand? What caused the delay in the post-accident response? These questions remain unclear. Time passes relentlessly, and the grief of the bereaved families deepens.

What have we learned from a series of major accidents such as the 1993 Seohae Ferry disaster (292 deaths), the 1994 Seongsu Bridge collapse (32 deaths), the 1995 Sampoong Department Store collapse (502 deaths), the 2003 Daegu subway disaster (192 deaths), and the 2014 Sewol Ferry tragedy (304 deaths)? Has our society truly progressed after experiencing these events? Or have we merely been eager to move past each phase by saying "it couldn't be helped"? The way we remember these tragedies provides an answer to these questions. In short, it is "avoidance rather than remembrance." Here are two symbolic scenes.

At Yangjae Citizen's Forest (recently renamed Maehun Citizen's Forest), 234 Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, there is the "Sampoong Tragedy Memorial Tower." Yangjae Citizen's Forest is divided into north and south sections; the north side houses the Maehun Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall and sports facilities. The "Sampoong Tragedy Memorial Tower," erected in 1998, is located in a secluded corner at the far end of the southern section. I visited the site on the 27th of last month. Reading a memorial poem, "In our eyes, the lost loved ones are still vivid. Lost loved ones who perished due to negligence, contradictions, and injustice now remain only as smiles in family photos..." Turning around, I noticed wreaths left by bereaved families. "Dear son-in-law, daughter, rest peacefully in heaven..." Even after 27 years, the "Sampoong tragedy" remains ongoing.

The Sampoong Department Store was located at 1685-3 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. The site is now occupied by Seocho Acrovista, a luxury residential complex. Yangjae Citizen's Forest has no connection to the Sampoong tragedy. So why was the "Sampoong Tragedy Memorial Tower" erected in this little-visited place? Originally, the bereaved families wanted to build a memorial or monument at the accident site. However, since the land had to be sold to raise compensation funds, the authorities opposed placing such a "noxious facility" there, fearing it would deter buyers. As a result, the memorial tower was built in this unrelated and hard-to-find location. The tragedy was something to be forgotten quickly rather than remembered.

The memorial for the victims of the Seongsu Bridge collapse is even worse. It is located in a place difficult for the public to access. Even if one wants to pay respects, the location makes it hard. It is on the north end of Seongsu Bridge, requiring crossing a two-lane road and then a one-lane road. There are no sidewalks or crosswalks, so it is impossible to reach on foot. One can go around via the Seoul Forest Waterworks Museum side, but few know this route. I visited early in the morning by car. The construction plaque reads: "~Reflecting on the negligent practices in our society that caused this accident, we erected this memorial and commemorative sculpture on the third anniversary of the accident to honor the victims and use it as a mountain education site to raise awareness about safety management. October 21, 1997." Building it in such an inaccessible place and calling it a "mountain education site" felt hollow.

Our attitude toward remembering the "10.29 tragedy" must now change. Although there have been some changes since the "Sewol Ferry tragedy," they are insufficient. First, a memorial space should be created at the site of the tragedy. It should be a place where anyone can easily access, mourn, remember, and make pledges. Such a place is not a "noxious facility" but a space of remembrance and a foundation for learning toward a better Republic of Korea. Space governs consciousness, and consciousness leads to change.

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