Religious Circles Urge to Stop Verbal Violence Against Itaewon Victims and Bereaved Families

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] Religious leaders have urged an end to hatred and disparagement directed at the victims and bereaved families of the Itaewon tragedy.

Four religious organizations?the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) Justice and Peace Committee, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Social Labor Committee, the Jesuit Human Rights Solidarity, and the Won-Buddhism Civil Society Network?issued an appeal on the 21st stating, “There continues to be indiscriminate hatred, disparagement, and insults toward the victims that are hard to even put into words. Recently, an incident occurred where a mother of one victim, who was guarding the memorial altar and enduring pain, fainted after being shocked by the ridicule poured directly in her face.”

They added, “A single nameless chrysanthemum placed before the victims’ memorial is a spontaneous expression of dongche daebi (同體大悲, compassion as one body) because they are not others but one with us. The tears that flow involuntarily upon witnessing the anguished cries of the bereaved families stem from the belief that the bulinji sim (不忍之心, the heart that cannot bear to ignore another’s suffering) is something every human possesses.”

The four religious groups pledged, “We will stand by the bereaved families until the end and fulfill our religious duties with all sincerity and capability,” urging an immediate halt to insulting verbal violence, prompt police investigation into secondary victimization, and swift measures to ensure the social protection of the bereaved families.

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