S.Korean dad seeks justice for Halloween crush victims
STORY: One month after his daughter died, Cho Gi-Dong’s grief shows no signs of waning.
He has come to visit the urn containing the remains of his 24-year-old daughter, Ye-jin, who died in a deadly crush in the Korean capital Seoul in October.
Cho has visited almost daily ever since she was laid to rest.
"I'm so sorry", he says, over and over.
Over 150 people died when revellers flooded the narrow alleyways of the nightlife district of Itaewon to celebrate the first COVID-19 restriction-free Halloween festivities in three years.
Ye-jin was with two friends that night, who also lost their lives.
Cho works as a bus driver but has been on a leave of absence after his daughter’s death.
He says he is unable to sleep and feels helpless at being unable to save his only child.
But his sorrow has slowly turned to anger.
That’s especially after transcripts of several emergency calls emerged, detailing the hours before the accident.
They showed that citizens had repeatedly warned of the dangers and urged intervention.
Police have faced stringent public criticism and scrutiny over its responses to those calls.
And an investigation is underway into authorities' overall handling of the crush.
South Korea's President, Interior Minister and National Police Commissioner General have pledged to conduct a transparent investigation and to take necessary steps once it concludes.
Cho says he has received guidance from the government on how he can be reimbursed for funeral costs and receive consolation money.
But he, and relatives of the other victims, want more.
"We don't need money, we live well enough without that money. That's not the way to console us bereaved families. We can't live without my daughter. However, rather than admitting their fault and understanding the families, they just pass the blame on others and avoid responsibility. Seeing that kind of behavior, I get into a rage.”
Relatives say they want an apology from the government.
Lee Ju-hee is from a collective of human rights lawyers called Minbyun.
She says nearly 60 families have joined the campaign for justice.
"Before we talk about the financial support or compensation, what's important to us right now is the truth of political and administrative tragedy - why our children had to die on the street that we have walked past all the time believing it would be safe."
Cho says an apology and seeing those responsible punished would help reduce his anger.
But it will never make up for the loss of his beloved daughter.
相關影片推薦
- 2:02歐洲最長「超級高鐵」測試軌道開通 34鋼管連結420公尺路線、時速可達700公里Yahoo奇摩(國際通)23,938 次觀看・1 天前
- 1:3845歲女醫院櫃檯前突昏倒 甲狀腺亢進引發心肌梗塞民視影音101,573 次觀看・19 小時前
- 2:19搶股東紀念品! 打擊抵用券.隨名杯受歡迎民視影音91,063 次觀看・14 小時前
- 1:48美樂透「兆彩」連槓30次 頭獎361億元終開出 創紐澤西紀錄Yahoo奇摩(國際通)76,828 次觀看・1 天前
- 1:31穿睡衣褲上班! 中國員工「噁心穿搭」風潮|#鏡新聞鏡新聞6,346 次觀看・1 天前
- 0:45台北橋塞爆! 卡40分鐘 騎士控紅綠燈調配出包東森新聞影音108,310 次觀看・22 小時前
- 9:18番茄這樣做竟然這麼好吃,不用炸不用煎,加1塊豆腐,能讓你多吃兩碗飯,香!.芭樂媽的家 Qistin Wong TV63,030 次觀看・4 天前
- 4:14一分鐘報天氣 / 週五 (03/29) 週四夜至週五鋒面快速掠過 僅北部及東部轉有短暫陣雨Yahoo奇摩新聞(報氣象)7,997 次觀看・20 小時前
- 1:34邱國正軍職兒遭爆召妓 國安局:已立案調查|#鏡新聞鏡新聞839 次觀看・17 小時前
- 1:58墨西哥逾10萬人失蹤 家屬尋親發現「祕密墳場」驚現火化爐、無名墳Yahoo奇摩(國際通)34,979 次觀看・1 天前
熱門必看
- 1:17Angelababy瘋馬秀後復出 仍被踢出11年節目? 《奔跑吧》全新陣容「她」接替baby2個代言!娛樂星聞16,986 次觀看・2 天前
- 17:28朝聖2024年最新東京teamLab 現點飲料會開花?視覺震撼連發!Yahoo創作摩人2,884 次觀看・1 天前
- 11:39如何把芋頭做得好吃?教你這招,加1塊豆腐,一上桌就掃光,比肉還香!芭樂媽的家 Qistin Wong TV57,017 次觀看・4 天前
- 13:56高雄三民區宵夜美食|從台南紅到高雄的超人氣厚奶酥!自由搭配湯頭、麵條、配料的港味車仔麵、一鍋兩吃的麻辣干鍋!我是馬鈴薯小姐雁靈1,288 次觀看・2 天前
- 2:00簡單又美味,奶奶的紅燒桂竹筍麥可星級料理廚房27,147 次觀看・2 天前