Families of Itaewon disaster victims share a moment of solace together. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — At exactly 10:29 a.m. on Thursday, six days before the third anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush, three shrouded photographs were revealed outside Exit 1 of Itaewon Station — the site of the 2022 tragedy that left 159 people dead.
Against a deep violet backdrop embroidered with constellations, the images depict bereaved family members embracing one another, their grief and tenderness intertwined. Surrounding the photographs are words of remembrance — “May everyone who remembers that night be at peace” — translated into 14 languages, honoring the victims from abroad.
The installation is the latest work in the “10.29 Memory and Path of Safety” art project, which began after the disaster to preserve collective memory through public art. Its artistic director, photographer Kwon Eun-bi, said she drew inspiration from survivors’ testimonies — from those who tried to hold on to friends or loved ones amid the crush. “I wanted the work to express the act of embracing — of containing the pain rather than turning away from it,” she said.
Graphic designer Kim Min-jae, who collaborated on the piece, said he imagined the victims as “stars watching over the living.” He placed small stars between the letters of the installation’s text, turning language itself into a constellation of remembrance.
Three Years After the Itaewon Tragedy, Families Turn Mourning Into Memory (Yonhap)
For the families, the unveiling was both painful and healing. Many stood silently before the images, some wiping away tears. “It felt like the work was embracing all our grief,” said Kim Soon-shin, who lost his son that night. “All I want is for the full truth to be revealed.”
After the ceremony, several family members held each other close, echoing the gestures in the photographs. “We still don’t know why our children never came home,” said Jung Mi-ra, vice chair of the Itaewon Disaster Families Council. “I just hope no one ever has to experience what we did — that this country becomes a place where people are safe, everywhere they go.”
Later in the day, families and civic groups held a press briefing at the House of Stars memorial in Jongno, announcing the release of a photo book titled “10.29 Memory and Path of Safety — We Still Have Names to Remember.” The collection features works and writings by 25 artists — photographers, poets, and designers — who have contributed to the ongoing memorial project.
The exhibition will remain on display at the House of Stars through November 1. Official commemorations, jointly organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, are scheduled for this week: a memorial gathering at Seoul Plaza on October 25, and a remembrance ceremony in Gwanghwamun Square on October 29 — the night Seoul still struggles to understand.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
