South Korea to hold memorial events for 4th anniversary of Itaewon tragedy

The South Korean government, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and bereaved families are organizing official memorial events to mark the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy.

The commemorations will be divided into two parts. A ‘Citizen Memorial Service’ will be held on October 24 at 5:30 PM at Seoul Plaza, which is open to any citizen without prior registration.

A formal ‘4th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony’ will take place on October 29 at 10:29 AM at Gwanghwamun North Plaza. This event expects approximately 1,000 attendees, including government officials, political leaders, and civil society representatives. The ceremony will include moments of silence, memorial speeches, and a video reflecting on the past four years. Additionally, representatives from 35 bereaved families traveling from abroad will deliver messages, and novelist Jeong Bora will read a piece titled ‘Writing of Memory.’

Those wishing to attend the formal ceremony at Gwanghwamun must apply online between October 6 and October 19. If applications exceed capacity, participants will be selected via a random lottery.