Itaewon crowd crush: Thousands in South Korea protest demanding justice for the young

Numerous vigils and rallies were staged around the South Korean capital city as public outrage over the worst tragedy to hit the country in a decade grew. On October 29, a fatal crowd crush took place during Halloween celebrations in Itaewon's nightlife zone which left 196 people injured and killed 156 people, most of whom were young.

After a week, the police and fire departments in the area were raided as part of an investigation. The national police commander and President Yoon Suk-yeol both expressed regret and promised to put in place better crowd control procedures in the future. Activists and political organizations held at least seven vigil protests across Seoul on Saturday, capitalizing on the fury.




Before the Itaewon disaster, a coalition of progressive organizations called Candlelight Action had been organizing regular political demonstrations against President Yoon. This was the largest one. Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled two lanes of a major route near City Hall where the event was held. Many protesters held black placards that said, stepping down was a gesture of condolence, in a direct message to President Yoon, as they marched in the city.

Onstage, speakers alternated between denouncing the government in statements punctuated with sombre musical performances and Buddhist monks reciting prayers. One speaker claimed that even if it is obvious that the government is accountable, the occurrence happened because the government failed to fulfil a fundamental duty.

FAQs

Where is Itaewon?
Itaewon is a multiethnic shopping district in Seoul, South Korea.

What is the Itaewon crowd crush?
A crush happened on Halloween night in the Itaewon district of Seoul, South Korea, on October 29, 2022. Apart form the deaths a lot were injured.