Itaewon Tragedy Memorial Altar Removal Likely to Be Extended... Seoul City Plans Second Notice

"Administrative Enforcement Requires Two or More Warnings"

[Asia Economy Reporter Sung Ki-ho] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is likely to extend the deadline for dismantling the incense altar that the bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster suddenly installed at Seoul Plaza.

Lee Dong-ryul, spokesperson for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said at a regular briefing held at City Hall on the 6th, when asked about the city's response to the incense altar at Seoul Plaza, "According to precedents, administrative enforcement is carried out after two or more warnings."

On the 6th, police officers were guarding the joint memorial altar for the victims set up by the Itaewon Disaster Citizens' Countermeasures Committee and the Bereaved Families' Council on the 4th at Seoul Plaza. The Seoul Metropolitan Government notified the bereaved families that if the altar is not voluntarily removed by 1 PM on the 6th, administrative enforcement will be carried out. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

When the '10·29 Itaewon Disaster Citizens' Countermeasures Committee' installed an incense altar at Seoul Plaza on the 4th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government delivered a first warning letter on the 6th, stating that if it is not voluntarily dismantled by 1 p.m., administrative enforcement will begin. Accordingly, there is room for interpretation that dismantling may not occur even after the second warning. Usually, a new deadline is specified in the second warning. The city stated that the timing for delivering the second warning letter is undecided.

The spokesperson explained the response plan if the bereaved families do not dismantle the memorial space even after the second warning, saying, "We will observe today's situation first and announce separately," and added, "We will take measures while complying with administrative procedures according to legal regulations and precedents."

When asked whether the voluntary dismantling period requested by the Seoul Metropolitan Government was too short, he replied, "It depends on the nature of the facility," and added, "Considering that it is a tent, not a concrete structure, I do not think it is short."

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