Actor Lee Ji-han remembered on third anniversary of Itaewon tragedy

Actor Lee Ji-han / Courtesy of 935 Entertainment

Three years after actor Lee Ji-han lost his life in the Itaewon crowd crush, fans continue to mourn the young star whose life was cut short too soon.

Lee, 25, was among the 159 people who died on Oct. 29, 2022, in Seoul’s Itaewon area during Halloween weekend festivities.

“Lee Ji-han has become a star in the sky and left our side. We offer our deepest condolences to his family and to everyone who loved and supported him," his agency, 935 Entertainment, said at the time.

Lee first gained recognition through Mnet’s “Produce 101" Season 2 in 2017 and was filming the MBC drama “Kokdu: Season of Diety” (2023) at the time of his death. The production halted filming to honor his memory before resuming.

After the tragedy, Lee’s mother shared a heartbreaking letter addressed to her son. “I still can’t believe you’re gone. It feels like you’ll burst through the door any moment, calling ‘Mom!’” she wrote. “I miss you so much. Your father wears your socks and shoes just to feel close to you, and I carry the bag you once gave me wherever I go.”

On Wednesday, President Lee Jae Myung attended the first government-organized memorial marking the third anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy. At 10:29 a.m., sirens sounded across Seoul, and citizens observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.