Survivors of Itaewon tragedy suffer from PTSD

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sat, September 23, 2023 | 13:48

Survivors of Itaewon tragedy suffer from PTSD

Posted : 2022-12-17 09:45

Updated : 2022-12-17 09:45

A student pays tribute to the victims of the Oct. 29 Itaewon crowd crush tragedy at a memorial altar set up in Itaewon, Seoul, Thursday. Newsis

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo under fire for insensitive remarks blaming victim

By Lee Yeon-woo

A 17-year-old high school student was found dead on Dec. 12 in a motel in Mapo District, Seoul, Monday. He was a survivor of the Itaewon crowd crush. He had gone to Itaewon on Oct. 29 with his two friends. Whereas his two friends died there, he survived.

His body was found in an apparent suicide a few hours after his mother reported him as missing to the police.

"I'm going to see my friends soon," a memo written in his cell phone, which was later found.

It is known that he had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after he managed to survive the deadly crowd crush that killed 159 people.

The boy's parents said that he had put his best effort into returning to normal. He went back to school and received multiple counseling sessions in school and at a hospital.

But hate comments online made him vulnerable, his parents recalled.

"One day in November, he was talking to us while crying. He was so mad after reading online comments insulting those who had died," his mother told local broadcaster MBC.

"He felt so sorry for being one of the only people who had survived … Reading those comments made him collapse," his mother added.

Early symptoms of PTSD after a terrifying event include nightmares, flashbacks, panic attacks and other severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. If additional harm, such as blame, is experienced by the sufferer, symptoms can rapidly be exacerbated, according to the Korean Association of Psychiatric Practitioners.

"As in this case, those who have experienced and witnessed the deaths of people close to them not only suffer from PTSD but tend to have severe grief reactions. They are also at high risk for taking their own lives," the association added.

So far, many survivors of the Itaewon tragedy are suffering from PTSD. As of Tuesday, the National Center for Disaster and Trauma and local mental health welfare centers have treated 1,360 cases of survivors and victims' bereaved family members.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a media briefing held at Government Complex Seoul, Thursday. Newsis.

Whereas psychological experts have emphasized the importance of providing emotional support to survivors, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's blunt remarks about the deceased high schooler have drawn public anger.

"It's indeed heartbreaking," Han told reporters during a media briefing when he was asked whether the government's support for survivors was adequate. "It would have been better if he had been a little stronger (to endure the ordeal) and had a stronger desire to receive treatment. Our basic policy is that if you want to receive treatment and have the intention, the government will actively support and help."

His remarks seemingly appeared to blame the boy for committing suicide because he was not mentally strong enough, and this triggered a backlash.

Yoo Seung-min, a former lawmaker who is currently vying for the ruling People Power Party's leadership position, criticized Han for his remarks.

"He has zero ability to sympathize with the victim. Are these words the ones people expect to hear from a prime minister amid a tragedy like this?" Yoo wrote on Facebook, Thursday.

"He should have apologized first for [the government] failing properly to consider the extent of survivors' psychological trauma … These kinds of words came out because he was only thinking, 'How can I avoid responsibility?'" Yoo continued.

Lee Jeong-mi, chief of the minor progressive Justice Party, also said that Han had given fodder to hateful online comments, placing the burden on individual survivors of the tragedy to overcome the trauma.

As the criticism spread, Han's office issued a statement. It read that Han's comments had been only an expression of regret about the death of the boy, and "did not mean to place responsibility for the tragedy on individuals or to relieve the state of its responsibilities."

*If you need expert help due to depression or other mental health concerns, you can receive 24-hour counseling at the Korean Suicide Prevention Center's hotline at 1393.

yanu@koreatimes.co.kr