4th Anniversary of Itaewon Tragedy: Japanese Bereaved Father Says, "I Want to See My Daughter Smile Just Once More"

▲ A press conference for foreign bereaved families is held at "House of the Stars," set up in Jeokseon Hyundai Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 28th, marking the 4th anniversary of the October 29 Itaewon tragedy.

"I want to see my daughter's smiling face just once more."

Mr. A (53), the father of Kozuchi Ann, a Japanese victim who died in the Itaewon tragedy four years ago at the age of 18, met with Japanese media and other reporters in Seoul on the 28th and said, "Even now, I want to meet my daughter. I want to hear her voice."

According to outlets including the Tokyo Shimbun and Asahi on the 29th, Kozuchi was visiting Itaewon while studying abroad in South Korea on October 29, four years ago, when she became a victim of the accident.

Mr. A said, "I thought the sadness might lessen a little as time passed, but even after several years, I still cannot accept the fact that my daughter is gone."

He continued, "Even though four years have passed, to us, our daughter is by no means a figure of the past," adding, "I believe that continuing to talk about my daughter will serve as proof that she truly lived in this world."

He also appealed, "I hope that the same thing never happens again," and added, "Please never forget that there are families like us who have lost someone precious, and that each and every person who passed away had an irreplaceable life."

Among the victims of the Itaewon tragedy were 26 foreign nationals from 14 countries, including two Japanese citizens: Kozuchi and Tomikawa Mei, an exchange student who was 26 at the time of her death.

Bereaved families of foreign victims, including Mr. A, were briefed on the progress of the investigation by the Special Investigation Commission on the Truth and Prevention of Recurrence of the October 29 Itaewon Tragedy on the 27th, and attended a press conference the previous day.

Regarding the Special Investigation Commission's interim investigation results announcing that there were problems with the government's overall response at the time of the disaster, Mr. A expressed his hope, saying, "I hope they ensure that similar incidents do not happen not only in South Korea but anywhere around the world."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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