Interior ministry opens signups for Itaewon disaster fourth-anniversary memorial

The interior ministry said it has opened advance registration for the official fourth-anniversary memorial for the victims of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, an event it is co-hosting with bereaved families, a civic coalition and the Seoul city government.

Registration runs from Oct. 6 to Oct. 19 through a dedicated website, itaewon1029.com, with applications accepted online until 11:59 p.m. on the closing day. If demand exceeds capacity, attendees will be chosen by random draw, with only those selected notified individually by text message.

The commemorations are split into two parts. A citizen memorial, open to anyone without registration, will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 at Seoul Plaza. The formal fourth-anniversary ceremony will take place at 10:29 a.m. on Oct. 29 at the north plaza of Gwanghwamun.

About 1,000 people are expected at the official ceremony, including government and political party representatives, National Assembly members, civic groups and members of the public.

The program opens with a moment of silence for the victims, followed by a memorial address from a government representative and remarks from a bereaved family representative. A tribute video looking back on the four years since the disaster will be screened, and a representative of the 35 bereaved family members who traveled to Korea from abroad will speak.

Novelist Chung Bo-ra will read a "letter of remembrance," after which bereaved families and citizens will read a fourth-anniversary pledge. Singers and musical actors will close the ceremony with a memorial performance.

Shin Ki-dong, head of the government support team for Itaewon disaster victims and commemoration, said he hopes the events leave a lasting mark. "I hope this memorial will be an occasion to deeply engrave the 'heart of remembrance' that does not forget the victims and the 'heart of solidarity' that gives strength to one another," he said, asking for the public's interest and warm participation.

Questions about the events can be directed to the memorial affairs office at 02-6931-0090.