[On-site Video] "Heavy Rain Disaster, Social Tragedy"... Civic Groups Set Up Memorial Altars for Citizens

원본보기 아이콘

[Asia Economy PD Yoon Jin-geun] “I believe this is not just a simple natural disaster, but a social tragedy caused by inequality.”

Civil organizations have set up a memorial altar to honor citizens who died due to heavy rain, defining their deaths as a ‘social tragedy.’ On the 16th, a citizen memorial altar was installed in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Council to commemorate citizens who lost their lives due to the heavy rain.

The ‘Disaster Inequality Memorial Action,’ a coalition of 177 organizations including the Housing Rights Network and the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, set up the citizen memorial altar in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Council in Jung-gu, Seoul, that afternoon.

On the 16th, a memorial altar for citizens who lost their lives due to the heavy rain concentrated in the metropolitan area since the 8th was set up in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Council. The photo shows the view of the memorial altar. Photo by Jin-geun Yoon PD yoon@

원본보기 아이콘

Due to the concentrated heavy rain that fell on the central region on the 8th, families with developmental disabilities and basic livelihood security recipients died in semi-basement rooms located in Dongjak-gu and Gwanak-gu, Seoul. The memorial action group pointed out that the damage caused by the heavy rain on the 8th and 9th was concentrated among socially vulnerable groups such as basic livelihood security recipients, people with developmental disabilities, and low-wage workers, urging the government and local governments to prepare realistic countermeasures.

A banner reading ‘Inequality is a disaster’ and ‘Citizen Memorial Altar for Housing Vulnerable Groups, People with Developmental Disabilities, the Poor, and Workers Sacrificed in the Heavy Rain Disaster’ was displayed at the memorial altar. At the center of the stage, a portrait with a black silhouette of a person was placed to represent those who lost their lives in Dongjak-gu and Gwanak-gu, Seoul.

On one wall of the memorial altar, black papers with phrases such as ‘Prepare Measures to Prevent Recurrence of Heavy Rain Disaster’ were posted. Additionally, post-it notes handwritten by someone read ‘Inequality is a disaster’ and ‘Water rose from the lowest places.’

On the 16th, a memorial altar for citizens who lost their lives due to the heavy rain concentrated in the metropolitan area since the 8th was set up in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Council. The photo shows a visitor lighting incense at the memorial altar. Photo by Jin-geun Yoon PD yoon@

원본보기 아이콘

The memorial action group pointed out that the tragedy caused by this flood is a ‘social tragedy.’ Kwon Myung-sook, executive committee member of the Seoul People’s Action, said, “The damage that occurred on the 8th and 9th is not a simple natural disaster but a social tragedy caused by inequality.” She added, “When flooding occurs, water flows downward and submerges the lowest areas first,” emphasizing, “The heavy rain disaster clearly showed that the lives of the most vulnerable at the bottom were destroyed first.”

On the 16th, a memorial altar for citizens who lost their lives due to the heavy rain concentrated in the metropolitan area since the 8th was set up in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Council. The photo shows the inside of the memorial altar, where a black silhouette of a person is used instead of an actual photo of the deceased. Photo by Jin-geun Yoon PD yoon@

원본보기 아이콘

The group also criticized the ‘countermeasures for residents of semi-basement housing’ announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Seoul announced plans to gradually eliminate semi-basement housing over the next 20 years, relocate residents living in underground and semi-basement homes to public rental housing, and introduce a voucher system providing 200,000 KRW monthly rent subsidies.

Executive committee member Kwon pointed out, “Simply eliminating semi-basement housing without providing measures for those who have no choice but to live there or where they can go is not a practical solution.” She added, “We plan to compile and announce countermeasures for housing vulnerable groups, people with disabilities, and basic livelihood security recipients.”

According to the memorial action group, from today until the 23rd, 177 memorial organizations will participate in maintaining the citizen memorial altar. During the altar’s operation period, the group plans to hold press conferences demanding flood countermeasures for housing vulnerable groups and a memorial cultural event with citizens at 7 p.m. on the 19th.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.