Interior ministry to open Itaewon disaster support website

The interior ministry said Wednesday it will open a dedicated website for victims and bereaved families of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush on Thursday, consolidating support programs and memorial events in one place four years after the disaster.

The portal, at 1029itaewondisaster.go.kr, was built with budget secured after families petitioned the government last year, and construction began in May, according to the ministry.

The site sets out who is eligible for victim support, the application process and the documents required, and lists the status of memorial projects and the schedules of commemorative events. A one-to-one inquiry feature lets families and victims register questions about support or memorial programs; the official handling the matter replies, and users receive a notification when an answer is posted. The ministry also created shared and individual communication spaces where bereaved families and victims can exchange views and keep in touch.

To reach foreign families and victims, the site is available in English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Persian.

"I hope this helps bereaved families and victims resolve their questions more easily and communicate with one another, and that it offers at least a little help in healing the pain of the disaster and recovering daily life," said Shin Ki-dong, head of the government's task force for support and commemoration of the Itaewon disaster.