[Anchor]
A memorial ceremony was held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul to mark the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon disaster. President Lee Jae-myung, the first president to attend a memorial service for the tragedy, pledged to thoroughly uncover the truth and fulfill the state's responsibility to protect the daily lives of citizens.
Reporter Ha Jeongyeon reports.
[Reporter]
The memorial ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon disaster began promptly at 10:29 a.m. to commemorate October 29, the date the tragedy took place.
In his memorial address, President Lee Jae-myung vowed to prevent any recurrence, saying that if the state had fulfilled its responsibility, that fateful day in Itaewon would have remained just an ordinary day.
[President Lee Jae-myung: "We will ensure that the people never suffer unjust sacrifices again due to the state's absence and neglect."]
Noting the revision of the special act to uncover the truth of the disaster and the extension of the special investigation committee's mandate until September next year, he stated that not a single doubt will be left unanswered.
[President Lee Jae-myung: "We will clearly and transparently reveal the truth so that not a single question remains, and we will see to it that this leads to definite, tangible changes in the lives of the bereaved families and our citizens."]
This year marks the second government-level memorial service, and it is the first time a president has attended in person.
President Lee was unable to attend the inaugural event last year due to his APEC schedule.
The president conveyed both his gratitude and condolences, acknowledging that the bereaved families had fought a lonely fight while the state failed to carry out its duties.
[Lee Jeong-min / Head of Steering Committee, 10·29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families: "I sincerely hope that this administration will be remembered in history as a government that fully uncovered the truth behind the tragedy and eased the grief of the bereaved families."]
The bereaved families stressed that uncovering the state's response and responsibility without any sacred cows is the only way to truly honor the souls of the victims.
(Camera by Jung Sang-bo | Video by Won Hyeong-hee)
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