On October 29, 2022, the tragic disaster in Itaewon, Seoul, occurred, and the 3rd anniversary has now arrived. On October 29, 2025, at 10:29 AM, a memorial siren sounded across Seoul for one minute. This was a significant moment to remember and mourn the victims of the Itaewon disaster, where 159 precious lives were lost. This memorial siren will be recorded as a symbolic act that conveys a deep message to our society and shares the community's pain.
This memorial siren for the 3rd anniversary of the Itaewon disaster has clear differences in purpose and meaning from general disaster alerts. The Ministry of Public Administration and Security and the Seoul Metropolitan Government sent guidance texts to citizens before the siren was broadcast, clearly informing them that it was not a warning for an emergency but a tribute to the victims. The siren was broadcast simultaneously across Seoul using the existing public warning system, encouraging citizens to participate in silent prayer with a solemn heart without being confused. The Republic of Korea operates various disaster prevention and preparedness systems through the National Disaster Safety Portal, and this infrastructure was utilized for the purpose of mourning.
This memorial siren was planned as a symbolic act to recognize the disaster as a responsibility of our community, not an individual issue, and to pledge to prevent such tragedies from happening again. With voices calling for the truth to be revealed and those responsible to be punished continuing even after three years, the sound of the siren shows a strong will to mourn the victims and create a safe society. This is our society's promise not to forget the pain of the past and to learn lessons for the future.
In particular, this 3rd-anniversary memorial ceremony is even more significant in that it is the first official memorial event held by the government with the bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster. Government officials, including Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, the Speaker of the National Assembly, and bereaved families and citizens from home and abroad gathered in Gwanghwamun Square to mourn the victims. This conveys a strong message of solidarity that the state will not turn away from the pain of the disaster, sympathizes with the grief of the bereaved families, and will work together to uncover the truth and build a safe society.
The silence of one minute during which the memorial siren sounded should be an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the lessons of the disaster and review safety systems, beyond simply honoring the victims. The Itaewon Disaster Special Investigation Committee is continuing its investigation, and citizens are urging responsible measures and the establishment of practical measures to prevent recurrence through continuous interest. Remembrance is the beginning of healing, and solidarity is the driving force for a better future. Efforts to create a society where all citizens can live safely will not stop.
A1: It sounded to mourn the victims of the Itaewon disaster that occurred on October 29, 2022, to recognize the disaster as a responsibility of the community, not an individual issue, and to pledge to prevent recurrence.
A2: The memorial siren was broadcast for the purpose of remembering and mourning the victims, not as a disaster alert to notify an emergency. The Ministry of Public Administration and Security and the Seoul Metropolitan Government prevented confusion among citizens through prior guidance texts.
A3: It emphasizes the community's responsibility for the disaster, honors the victims, and contains our society's promise and will to build a safe society so that such tragedies will not happen again.
A4: Since the Itaewon disaster, the government and local governments have been continuously discussing the improvement of crowd management and disaster response systems, and this 3rd-anniversary memorial ceremony in particular became an opportunity for the government to emphasize the state's responsibility for safety by participating in the official memorial event for the first time.
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