Controversy Over Sudden Removal of Itaewon Memorial Altar at Seoul Plaza... Escalating to 'Extreme Confrontation'

Seoul City "Must Respond Principally from the Administrative Agency's Perspective"
Bereaved Families "What We Demand Is a Natural Right of the People"

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Taewon] The bereaved families and the Seoul Metropolitan Government remain at odds over the citizen memorial altar that was suddenly installed at Seoul Plaza to commemorate 100 days since the Itaewon tragedy.

Lee Jong-cheol, representative of the Bereaved Families Association of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster, is speaking at a press conference held at the Itaewon Disaster Victims' Citizen Memorial Altar set up at Seoul Plaza on the afternoon of the 6th. Photo by Choi Tae-won skking@

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 6th, the city plans to respond in principle by classifying the altar as an illegal facility. Earlier, on the 4th, the 10·29 Itaewon Tragedy Bereaved Families Council and the Citizens' Countermeasure Meeting suddenly set up the altar in front of the Seoul Library in Jung-gu, Seoul. On the day of the altar's sudden installation, the city delivered a warning letter to the Citizens' Countermeasure Meeting, stating that if the altar was not voluntarily removed by 1 p.m. that day, administrative enforcement would be initiated. The city holds the position that the condolence space prepared on the 4th basement floor of Noksapyeong Station near Itaewon, where the tragedy occurred, should be used instead of the citizen memorial altar at Seoul Plaza.

Lee Dong-ryul, spokesperson for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said at a regular briefing on the 6th, "From the perspective of an administrative agency, we must respond in principle," and added, "According to precedents, administrative enforcement is carried out after two or more warnings."

He continued, "We will respond in principle to illegal facilities according to regulations," and "In responding in principle, we will follow laws and precedents."

According to the 'Ordinance on the Use and Management of Seoul Plaza,' to use the plaza, a usage application must be submitted to the city and permission obtained. If the plaza is occupied without permission, the city may order the removal of facilities or take necessary measures.

The bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster, who were taken away while confronting the police, are condemning Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon by holding up an electric heater that one of the families tried to bring in.
Photo by Tae-won Choi skking@

On the other hand, the bereaved families of the Itaewon tragedy and civic groups have not relented in their stance that the Seoul Plaza memorial altar cannot be removed.

They held a press conference at the citizen memorial altar at Seoul Plaza at 1 p.m. that day, arguing that the condolence space at Noksapyeong Station is unacceptable. They also stated that they submitted a prior permission application requesting the installation of a memorial altar at Sejongno Park to follow formal procedures for altar installation but received a rejection notice.

Lee Jong-cheol, representative of the Bereaved Families Council, said in his remarks, "Our children died unable to breathe in a cramped space. Are you saying that we should also go deep underground and die unable to breathe?" and added, "What we demand is a right and duty as rightful citizens."

Dozens of politicians also attended the press conference to support the Bereaved Families Council. Nam In-soon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "Mayor Oh Se-hoon, can't you see the bereaved families sitting on this cold floor like this?" and stated, "I will hold the hands of the bereaved families and stand with them until a proper memorial space and an independent truth-finding organization are established."

There was also a legal argument that the Seoul Metropolitan Government has no grounds to dismantle the memorial altar. Lee Chang-min, a lawyer from Minbyun (Lawyers for a Democratic Society) and co-secretary of the 10·29 Itaewon Tragedy Response Task Force, said, "Since so many citizens and bereaved families are gathered here, eviction orders cannot be issued without a court ruling, and since this pertains to rites related to birth, marriage, and death, there is no precedent for dismantling through administrative enforcement within a few days."

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