Survivors and Families Still Seeking Answers One Year After Seoul's Deadly Itaewon Crowd Crush

A year after almost 160 people died in overcrowded Halloween festivities in Seoul, survivors and families of the victims demand a proper investigation and accountability from authorities. Despite the government implementing new safety measures ahead of this year's Halloween, many still insist the official response was inadequate, with complaints of inadequate briefing, lack of explanation, and ongoing victim-blaming.

Almost one year after the Halloween crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon district that killed nearly 160 people, grieving survivors and families are fighting for proper investigation and accountability from authorities. Despite officials implementing new safety measures, many believe the government's response was inadequate.
The initial investigation found that local government officials failed to properly plan for the event by implementing crowd control measures. The police were also found to have ignored calls warning about the crowd's size before the incident. However, higher-level officials, including the interior minister, Seoul's mayor, and the National Police Agency, have been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Of the victims, 23 police officers and government officials have been charged with crimes such as involuntary manslaughter and negligence. However, many remain in their jobs as investigations and trials continue. Families of the victims have instigated a new, independent investigation awaiting parliamentary approval.
After the tragedy, the government established a trauma center to offer counseling to survivors. Many of the victims of the incident, however, report a lack of trust in the government and have thus not sought their help. Consequently, mental health support for survivors is limited and insufficient.
The public has poorly received the shift of blame onto victims from government agencies and public officials, essentially suggesting that victims were responsible for participating in the event. Those critical of these perceptions argue for greater societal sympathy towards such incidents' victims rather than assigning blame to individuals.