One year later, survivors of the Itaewon crush continue to endure torment

It has been one year since the tragic crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood that claimed the lives of almost 160 young people. Lee Ju-hyun, a survivor, frequently visits the alleyway where the incident occurred to keep the memory of that dreadful night alive until justice is served. On Halloween weekend, over 100,000 individuals flocked to Itaewon to party. They funneled into a narrow passage until the crowd became so tight that people were unable to move or breathe, leading to numerous fatalities. Despite documented failures by the authorities, no one has been held responsible, leaving survivors and the families of the victims struggling to heal. Lee Ju-hyun can pinpoint the exact spot where she fell to the ground under the weight of the crowd, her legs becoming paralyzed due to the pressure. She regained consciousness to the sound of chaos, with screams reverberating throughout the area. Many bars in the alleyway remain closed, and the survivors and bereaved continue to be haunted by the tragedy. Park Jin-sung, who lost his sister that night, and his mother have left their jobs. Jin-sung's initial fear and sadness have been replaced by anger, and he, along with other families, is demanding a new, independent investigation into the incident. They feel that those responsible have not been held accountable for the mistakes made that night. An initial investigation revealed that local government officials and police failed to adequately plan for the event or respond to concerns about the large crowds. However, little explanation has been provided regarding why these mistakes occurred, despite the authorities being aware of the potential danger. While some lower-ranking officials have been charged with criminal offenses, more senior politicians and officials have been cleared of any wrongdoing. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the government established a trauma center to provide counseling to survivors, but many do not trust it and choose not to seek support. The families of the victims have taken it upon themselves to watch over an altar adorned with photos of the deceased, as they fear the authorities may remove it. They feel ostracized by the authorities, who have avoided taking responsibility and, in some cases, even blamed the survivors and victims for being out that night. Psychiatrist Paik Jong-woo maintains that the lack of accountability and politicization of the incident have hindered the recovery of survivors and bereaved. He created a support group to counsel them, as very few were receiving assistance. The government and local authorities have declined to comment on the lessons learned from the tragedy and their plans to ensure public safety during Halloween, stating that it is not the appropriate time to discuss the matter. Though some safety measures have been introduced, such as an automatic alert system for the police and the rollout of CCTV to monitor crowd densities, the district authority of Yongsan, which was criticized for its lack of safety measures, refused to provide information on any changes made. This year's Halloween celebrations in Itaewon are expected to be more subdued, with some establishments choosing not to host parties. Lee Ju-hyun plans to attend to demonstrate that the responsibility does not lie with the survivors. Although Lee Ju-hyun's legs have mostly recovered from the injuries sustained, she still experiences pain on her right side when standing for extended periods. As she pauses to read the messages of condolence on the alleyway's wall, a tear falls from her cheek. She expresses sadness for the lives lost and their loved ones left behind, and she frequently stops at the alleyway to ask the deceased what survivors can do for them.