hankyoreh

Family members of those who died in the crowd crush in Itaewon on Oct. 29 sob at a memorial altar for the deceased set up near Noksapyeong Station in Seoul on Dec. 14. (Kim Chang-kwang/The Hankyoreh)

A survivor of the Itaewon crowd crush of Oct. 29 was found dead on Monday. Although there was no suicide note, it is presumed that the victim took their own life after the traumatic event.

It is time for our society to think about what it has done for the survivors of the tragedy to help them fully recover in the wake of the catastrophe.

However, the current administration and the ruling party are making remarks that exacerbate these survivors’ trauma.

Experts point out that the support of society plays a huge role in healing from trauma. It is only when they are supported by society that they see they are not alone and are able to overcome the sense of isolation.

However, Korean society continues to ridicule and slight those who survived Oct. 29.

Far-right groups hurl insults and taunt the families of the victims in front of the altar for the dead, spewing hateful phrases like, “It was their fault they died,” and “Don’t try to make this political.”

As members of the same community, they should be ashamed to act in such a way. The survivor who appears to have taken their own life reportedly had a hard time dealing with hateful comments targeting the survivors of the tragedy.

It is even more unforgivable that those in politics, who should be using their power to help the wounded heal, are only egging on such hatred aimed at victims.

Kweon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party (PPP), vehemently criticized the launch of a council of families who lost loved ones in Itaewon by saying, “by being used politically, like the Sewol ferry disaster, there’s a possibility that this will be used as a means of embezzlement by civic groups.”

Song Eon-seog, another lawmaker with the PPP, made unfounded remarks linking the victims of the tragedy to drugs, which drew strong criticism from the bereaved families.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo made a statement in a regular reporters meeting held on Thursday morning regarding the Itaewon tragedy survivor who ended their life. He said, “I think it would’ve been better if the deceased had been more considerate of themselves, and if they had thought more strongly about receiving treatment.” He also stated that “if they had been clearer about the problems they were facing at the one-stop service center, they would’ve been able to support them even more.” Those are very inappropriate remarks putting all the blame for the tragic death on the victim.

Kweon spoke of the tragedy being used “politically,” mainly in regard to the council of bereaved families, but the group that is causing political strife with this tragedy and putting salt in the bereaved family’s wounds is the PPP.

Who are the ones boycotting the parliamentary investigation once the bill for the dismissal of Lee Sang-min, minister of the interior and safety, was passed? Who are the ones slowing down the parliamentary investigation under the pretext of the budget bill? The PPP needs to know that our society will not heal properly if we do not identify who is responsible for this tragedy.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]