Frank Smith
Press TV, Seoul
The family members of the victims of the Itaewon tragedy - and thousands of their supporters - remembered those 158 mostly young people whose lives were taken in a crowd crush October 29th. Some read letters to their lost loved ones.
Although tens of thousands were gathered, police did not manage the crowds and ignored emergency calls hours before the deadly crush.
Among those who perished in the tragedy were 26 foreigners, including five Iranians. And like many of the young people who died they were students, visiting South Korea to get more experience in the world and primarily more education – to better themselves.
Victims families want the truth and those responsible brought to justice. A class action lawsuit is suing the government, which has often deflected responsibility and blamed the victims. It reminds some of the ferry sinking in 2014 in which more than 300 died.
Tonight marked the 49th day since the tragedy, signifying the end of the morning period, when the spirit of those dead to be reborn, reaches Buddha and bliss.