October 29: Four Years On, Remembering 160 Itaewon Victims
Four years after the October 29, 2022 Itaewon tragedy, we look at the official recognition of 160 victims in June 2026, places of remembrance, the fourth-anniversary ceremony and the importance of public safety.
People remember October 29 in different ways: laying a flower, standing quietly before messages of condolence, or simply holding the bereaved in their thoughts. On October 29, 2026, four years after the tragedy in Seoul’s Itaewon district, we remember the people who died and those who remain. Rather than showing distressing scenes from the disaster, this article focuses on memorial spaces and verified public records.
October 29, 2022: An ordinary evening turned tragic
A deadly crowd crush occurred on a densely packed street in Itaewon, Yongsan District, Seoul. In the aftermath, citizens left flowers and letters near Itaewon Station, Seoul Plaza and other places. A photograph taken near Itaewon Station Exit 1 on November 1, 2022, shows floral tributes and people pausing to remember. It depicts grief and remembrance rather than sensational images of the incident.
Why the official number changed from 159 to 160
On June 26, 2026, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that the officially recognized number of victims had changed from 159 to 160. A local business owner who helped with rescue efforts that night was additionally recognized under the relevant law. The ministry said specialists and public agencies reviewed the connection between the tragedy and the difficulties the person subsequently experienced. Thus, the official fourth-anniversary remembrance recognizes 160 victims. Recording the number accurately is part of remembering the individual lives behind it.
Places where flowers and messages remain
The Seoul Metropolitan Government set up joint memorial altars at Seoul Plaza and district offices from October 31, 2022. Messages and flowers also accumulated in the alley where the tragedy took place. The cover photograph shows the memorial alley on or after October 29, 2023; an inline photograph shows the Seoul Plaza memorial on October 31, 2022. The forms of remembrance have evolved as time has passed.
A minute of remembrance beginning at 10:29 a.m.
According to a government announcement on October 27, 2026, the fourth-anniversary memorial ceremony is scheduled to begin at Gwanghwamun Square with a moment of silence at 10:29 a.m. It is jointly organized with bereaved families, civic groups and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Relatives of foreign victims and members of the public are expected to attend, with speeches, readings, music and a public pledge of remembrance. The value of the ceremony lies in remembering people together and reaffirming the importance of safety.
Remembrance is not only about the past. Early detection of crowd risks, clear communication, effective responses and repeated safety reviews matter wherever many people gather. Respecting bereaved families and survivors, and preserving accurate records, matters too. May today’s quiet remembrance lead to a commitment to safer journeys home for everyone.
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