President Lee Marks 4th Anniversary of Itaewon Disaster: “So No One Is Unjustly Sacrificed Because of the State’s Absence”

[Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung said on the 29th, marking the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon disaster, “I will ensure that people are never again unjustly sacrificed because of the state’s absence and neglect.”
In his memorial remarks at the 10·29 Itaewon Disaster 4th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony that day, President Lee said, “On that day, when a fall night that should have been joyful was transformed into the scene of a horrific tragedy, the state was absent.”
President Lee said, “Four years have passed since 160 universes came crashing down, and October has come around again,” and “the once-natural belief that the state would protect my life and my family’s was shattered.” He added, “If the state had fulfilled its responsibilities, that day in Itaewon would have remained an ordinary day, no different from any other.”
Speaking of the suffering of the bereaved families, President Lee said, “At a moment when the state should have reached out first, they instead had to demand truth and accountability from the state.” He added, “I offer my deep gratitude and heartfelt words of comfort to all the bereaved families, who have opened a new path toward a safer society through their tears.”
He said, “It must never happen again that the dignity of the victims is violated or that the state reopens, time and again, the wounds of bereaved families who must live with their heartrending grief.”
He also stressed his commitment to uncovering the truth and preventing a recurrence. President Lee said, “A full investigation into the truth is the starting point for complete healing,” explaining, “Last September, we amended the 10·29 Itaewon Disaster Truth-Finding Act and extended the special investigation committee’s term through September 2027.” He added, “I will lay out the truth clearly and unequivocally, leaving not a single question unanswered.”
President Lee said, “To reaffirm the very reason the state exists, the government is focusing the nation’s capabilities on making the country safe for everyone, including by enacting a basic life-safety law.” He added, “I will make sure the promises I make here today lead to clear, tangible changes in the lives of the bereaved families and the public.”
Finally, he said, “I will fulfill the state’s responsibility by protecting the ordinary day in which a family that leaves home after sharing breakfast returns safely in the evening.” He added, “I will not forget. I will remember to the end.”

[email protected] Seong Seok-woo Reporter