Yoon vows to create safe country on 1st anniversary of Itaewon tragedy

President Yoon Suk Yeol gives a memorial speech at Youngahm Church in Seoul, Oct. 29, during a service commemorating the victims of the Itaewon crowd crush on the first anniversary of the accident, in this photo provided by the presidential office. Yonhap

President Yoon Suk Yeol said Sunday he will continue working toward building a safe Korea, as the country observed the first anniversary of the deadly crowd crush in Seoul.

Yoon made the point during his memorial speech at Youngahm Church in Seoul, while attending a service commemorating the 159 people killed in the crowd crush in the nightlife district of Itaewon on Oct. 29, 2022, during Halloween celebrations.

"This day last year was the saddest day of my life, and I believe everyone in Korea feels the same way that I do," Yoon told the audience. "I'd like to express my condolences to those who lost their lives in this unfortunate accident. As citizens of the country that those people loved, we have the responsibility to build a better world.

"Over the past year, our government has put in a lot of work to build a safe Korea," Yoon added. "And we will keep working hard to achieve the goal of ensuring safety in the country. We must make sure the sacrifices of the victims will not go to waste." (Yonhap)