[Anchor]

Memorial events for the victims of the Itaewon crowd crush were held across Seoul yesterday (October 24), five days ahead of the fourth anniversary of the disaster. Bereaved families and citizens honored the victims while strongly calling for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth.

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the details.

[Reporter]

At a memorial space set up along a wall on the "July 29 Corridor of Memory and Safety" in front of Exit 1 of Itaewon Station, where the tragedy occurred.

Tears welled up in the eyes of bereaved family members as they laid flowers one by one.

Ordinary citizens visiting the memorial also paid tribute to the victims, leaving messages promising to always remember them.

[Kim Min-ho / Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul: I wrote "with a shared heart." I wanted to come here with the feeling of remembering and standing together.]

Memorial events to console the spirits of the victims were held yesterday, five days ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy.

Beginning with prayer services by four religious groups, bereaved families and citizens marched from Itaewon Station to Seoul Plaza, where the temporary joint memorial altar had been located. Following the march, a public memorial ceremony co-hosted by the government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government was held.

Following last year, around 30 foreign bereaved family members also attended at the invitation of the government.

Four years have passed since the disaster, but bereaved families say their hearts still ache whenever this time of year arrives.

[Park Young-soo / Mother of the late Lee Nam-hoon: I took the subway, but I couldn't bring myself to get off at Itaewon Station, so I got off at Noksapyeong Station and walked here. Whenever October comes, looking at the world becomes a painful routine.]

They also strongly appealed for a thorough investigation into the truth and the punishment of those responsible, pointing out that progress has been sluggish.

[Yoo Hyung-woo / Father of the late Yoo Yeon-ju: Even now, four years later, nothing has been clearly brought to light, and there hasn't been anyone dismissed or punished in connection with it.]

Thinking of the victims whom they miss but cannot meet, and whom they yearn for even more at this time of year, the bereaved families try to gather strength.

[Park Young-soo / Mother of the late Lee Nam-hoon: Mom is trying her best right now, so please give Mom some strength from up there. I miss you and I love you, my son.]

Prime Minister Han Sung-sook attended yesterday's memorial ceremony and bowed her head, offering a deep apology once again on behalf of the government.

(Photo: Yonnhap News)
(Reported by In Pil-sung and Yang Hyun-chul | Video Editing by Park Sun-soo)