<Itaewon accident> Bereaved families who lost their families in the Sewol ferry sinking accident visited the accident site "As a father who lost child in the same way..."

The bereaved families of the Sewol ferry sinking accident visited the site of the site of the accident that occurred in Itaewon, Seoul on October 31st and put their hands together.

Twenty-seven bereaved families belonging to the April 16th Sewol Disaster Family Council, the April 16th Foundation, and the April 16th Solidarity gathered at Itaewon in Seoul at around 2:20 pm on this day. A moment of silence was observed in a temporary memorial space set up near Exit 1 of the station, and the South Korean government pursued a thorough investigation into the cause.

Kim Jong-ki, chairman of the family council, said, "I pray for the repose of the souls of the victims. I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who are suffering from the sudden tragedy. As a father who experienced that kind of sadness, I can't help but feel deep sorrow."

He added, "This accident was not something that could not have been prevented." and "It was fully foreseeable in a situation where social distancing was lifted, and countermeasures should have been taken. This is a man-made disaster."

He also mentioned, "After the sinking of the Sewol ferry, we have been fighting for more than eight years to ensure that such a tragedy never repeats itself. This kind of unspeakable tragedy has been repeated. The government and local governments should take all possible measures to collect accident information and follow-up measures, and handle all situations in the future from the standpoint of the victims and bereaved families."

"We need to investigate the cause of this accident, hold accountable, and establish preventive measures," Kim said, adding, “We need to prevent the public from becoming the bereaved of a tragic disaster again. It is our responsibility and role as a nation," he said.