| 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.
"What's the point of standing next to these (wreaths) when you let our babies die?" Uniformed police officers were then seen escorting the woman away from the memorial.
President Yoon on Friday joined other top officials ― including the national police chief and the interior minister ― who had apologized over the disaster.
"As a president who is responsible for the lives and safety of the people, I am deeply saddened and sorry," he said.
"I know that our government and I... have a huge responsibility to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again."
| 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 |
Scrutiny of crowd management
Yoon ― who is with the conservative People Power Party ― has been battling record-low approval ratings since taking office in May, and his political opponents are now taking aim at his government over the Halloween crush.
A group of young Koreans held a separate commemoration in central Seoul that organisers said was attended by 500 people.
"I can't believe people of my age died just because they wanted to have some fun on Halloween," said Park Tae-hoon, 29, one of the organizers and a member of the progressive Jinbo political party.
He told AFP before the event that its purpose was to demand punishment for those responsible and measures to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy.
South Korea is in a period of national mourning that ends Saturday, with flags flying at half-mast and entertainment events cancelled.
Public scrutiny of how the Halloween crowd was managed is mounting, and a wide-ranging probe is underway to determine the exact cause of the crush.
With no single organizer for the Halloween celebrations, the government did not require any of the bars, clubs and restaurants ― some located on Itaewon's narrow alleys and side streets ― to submit a safety management plan.
And even though police had estimated beforehand that a crowd of 100,000 would participate, they only deployed 137 officers ― compared with the 6,500 sent to another part of Seoul that night for an anti-government protest a fraction of the size. (AFP)