Seoul — Marking the first anniversary of the devastating crowd crush that claimed 159 lives in Seoul's Itaewon district, President Yoon Suk Yeol renewed his commitment to fostering safety in the nation. The President spoke on Sunday during a memorial service at Youngahm Church in Seoul, emphasizing the responsibility to honor the victims through tangible safety improvements.
According to a new release by Yonhap News Agency, Yoon, who attended the church during his elementary and early middle school years, said, "This day last year was the saddest day of my life, and I believe everyone in South Korea feels the same way that I do. I'd like to express my condolences to those who lost their lives in this unfortunate accident. As citizens of the country that those people loved, we have the responsibility to build a better world."
He also stated that his administration had been diligently working toward the objective of creating a safer country. "Over the past year, our government has put in a lot of work to build a safe Korea," he added. "And we will keep working hard to achieve the goal of ensuring safety in the country. We must make sure the sacrifices of the victims will not go to waste."
The memorial service at Youngahm Church was also attended by high-ranking officials from the government, the ruling People Power Party, and the presidential office.