Rallies were held across South Korea to commemorate the 156 people killed in a Halloween crowd crushpublic anger growing over one of the country’s deadliest peacetime disasters.
Thousands of people gathered in central Seoul on Saturday for a candlelight vigil organized by a civic group linked to South Korea’s main opposition party, with many placards reading: “Stand down, Yoon Suk-yeol.” .
In Itaewon, at a subway exit near the alley at the Halloween Crush Center, there was a sea of tributes and white floral notes. The mourners also left behind chocolates, beer, soju – a Korean alcoholic drink – and strawberry milk.
Similar vigils were held in other cities, including Busan and Gwangju.
The mostly young victims were among some 100,000 people who had flocked to the capital’s popular nightlife district to celebrate the first post-pandemic Halloween.
Opposition politicians have accused President Yoon Suk-yeol’s government of failing to take responsibility for the disaster.
President Yoon issued an apology for the disaster, joining other senior officials – including the national police chief and interior minister – in doing so.
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