SEOUL — Bereaved family members of the victims of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush convened in central Seoul on Saturday to voice their frustration over President Yoon Suk Yeol’s decision to veto a bill aimed at launching a new investigation into the incident. The demonstration featured 159 banners, representing each individual who perished during the crush in a narrow alley in Seoul’s Itaewon district during the Halloween weekend of 2022.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the rally was a response to President Yoon’s recent veto of a special bill that sought to mandate a fresh probe into the tragedy. Yoon had exercised his veto power, advocating for the National Assembly to reconsider the legislation, which had been expedited by the main opposition Democratic Party in January. The contested legislation aimed to create a special investigation committee to delve into the causes of the fatal event and to safeguard the rights of the victims and their families.