Candlelight vigils mourn Korea Halloween disaster victims

來源: 開云體育app官方網站 時間: 2023-01-24 00:59:58

Participants hold candles and placards at a rally to mourn victims killed in the Itaewon crowd crush near City Hall in central Seoul on Nov. 5, the final day of the weeklong national mourning period for the disaster that killed at least 156 people. Yonhap

Candlelight vigils and rallies were held in South Korea on Saturday to commemorate the 156 people killed in a Halloween crowd crush, with public anger growing over one of the country's deadliest disasters.

The victims, mostly young people, were among the estimated 100,000 that had flocked to the capital Seoul's popular Itaewon nightlife district to celebrate the first post-pandemic Halloween.

South Korean law enforcement officials have conceded that there was insufficient safety planning for a crowd that large, and opposition politicians have accused President Yoon Suk-yeol's government of not taking responsibility for the disaster.

Participants hold candles and placards at a rally to mourn victims killed in the Itaewon crowd crush near City Hall in central Seoul on Nov. 5, the final day of the weeklong national mourning period for the disaster that killed at least 156 people. Yonhap

Thousands gathered in central Seoul at a candlelight vigil organized by a civic group linked to South Korea's main opposition party, with many holding signs that said: "Step down, Yoon Suk-yeol."

The group ― which had also organized anti-government rallies prior to the disaster ― said it was also holding similar vigils in other cities, including Busan, Gwangju and Jeju.

And in Itaewon, at a subway exit near the ally at the centre of the Halloween crush, there was a sea of white floral tributes and post-it notes.

One said: "I will not let you go next time."
Another read: "I will remember you forever."
Mourners also left chocolates, beer, soju ― a Korean alcoholic beverage ― and strawberry milk.

Participants hold candles and placards at a rally to mourn victims killed in the Itaewon crowd crush near City Hall in central Seoul on Nov. 5, the final day of the weeklong national mourning period for the disaster that killed at least 156 people. Yonhap

'Deeply saddened and sorry'

Reflecting public anger over the tragedy, a woman identified by local media as the mother of one of the victims was seen ripping apart floral wreaths left by the president and Seoul's mayor at a memorial on Friday.

"What's the point of (these flowers) when they couldn't protect (our children)? Think about it," she was seen saying in footage broadcast by local TV stations.