Joint ceremony for Sewol ferry and Itaewon disaster victims in downtown Seoul

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Yun-ju = On the 25th of Chuseok, a joint ceremony was held to commemorate the victims of the Sewol ferry and Itaewon disasters in downtown Seoul.

The 4/16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Family Council (Korea Association) and the 4/16 Solidarity held a ceremony to honor the victims of the Sewol Ferry Disaster at the Sewol Ferry Memorial Space in Jung-gu, Seoul at 4:16 pm on this day.

Despite the rainy and inclement weather, about 50 bereaved family members and citizens stayed.

The ceremonial table was served with various foods such as pears, apples, melons, jujubes, chestnuts, pancakes, pizza, and whole chicken, as well as alcoholic beverages such as soju, beer, and makgeolli.

Kim Jong-ki, chairman of the steering committee of the Korean Association, said, “This is already the 13th Chuseok, but the truth and the safety of our society that we hope for have not yet been achieved.”

Regarding the Framework Act on Life Safety, which went into effect last May, he said, "Because it was not passed as originally planned, victims' efforts are needed," and "We must come up with a plan to supplement the original bill of the Framework Act on Life Safety, even through an enforcement ordinance."

He also emphasized, "Even if it is the 14th or 15th Chuseok, our family will not let go of the unfinished investigation of the truth," and added, "We will definitely reveal the truth and, if not legally, hold them accountable socially and morally."

Bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster also attended the Sewol Ferry joint ancestral rites ceremony, drank alcohol and bowed.

Lee Jeong-min, chairman of the steering committee of the Itaewon Disaster Victims' Family Council, said, "The resonance that resonated in this society as the families of the Sewol ferry disaster endured difficult times has reached us, and I think we should do our best to give the same resonance." He added, "We will continue to join hands with the families of the Sewol ferry disaster and do our best to help our society move toward a safe society."

Political figures such as Rep. Park Joo-min of the Democratic Party of Korea, Shin Jang-sik, representative of the Fatherland Innovation Party, Oh Jun-ho, representative of the Basic Income Party, and Han Chang-min, representative of the Social Democratic Party, also participated in the joint meeting on this day.

Meanwhile, the Itaewon Disaster Victims' Family Council held a ceremony to honor the victims of the Itaewon disaster at the House of Stars in Jongno-gu at 2 p.m.

In front of the ancestral rite table, bereaved families and citizens bowed in memory of the victims.