Grief suffocates businesses in Itaewon 3 months after tragedyThe once bustling alleys of Itaewon in central Seoul were all but deserted Monday, the third day of Korea’s four-day Lunar New Year holiday.Many restaurants and pubs were open, but customers were few.“I was surprised to see how there were so few people in Itaewon on a holiday night,” said Lee Seon-ah, who visited a restaurant in Itaewon with her friend.“There was only my friend and me dining at a restaurant that used to be very popular on social media pages.“It was really hard to see Itaewon as a downtown area on the night.”The scene in Itaewon, with only a few strolling in the alleys and looking at messages of mourning posted on walls, was similar to what a Korea JoongAng Daily reporter found in the area on a recent Saturday night.Staffers of pubs and restaurants stood out in the cold encouraging the occasional passerby to come in.It’s been almost three months since the crowd crush on Oct. 29 took the lives of 158 people, and that of a teen survivor who committed suicide shortly after.People clearly don't feel comfortable going back to the area to party, and the pain is only deepening for business owners in Itaewon.Reminders of the tragedy remain in the short alley where the deaths occurred.Messages of mourning to the victims are posted on one wall of the alley adjacent to the Hamilton Hotel.A policeman walks up and down the narrow alley, as if there might be some kind of trouble ahead.More messages of mourning are on a wall leading to Itaewon Station’s Exit. 1.In the so-called Three Alleys area where the tragedy took place, posters offer discount promotions to revive business in the area.A poster headlined “I love Itaewon” advertises 30 percent discounts at some restaurants, pubs and cafe, which are sponsored by the Itaewon Special Tourist Zone Organization.But the customers have yet to come.“We sold less than 50 percent of what we did in the past week despite having this promotion yesterday,” said Byeon Jong-kook, a Korean restaurant owner in Itaewon.Byeon has been running the restaurant for ten years.“If this continues, I feel like nobody will be able to survive.”According to Byeon, business is worse than during the Covid-19 pandemic.“When the pandemic arrived, every place in the country was affected,” he said.“But now, people who came to Itaewon on weekends are hanging out in places like Apgujeong in southern Seoul.”In the second week of last November, right after the tragedy, the number of people who went to Itaewon dropped to around 70 percent of the week before the tragedy. The coupons are sold at a 10 percent discount, and can be used at around 2,600 businesses in Itaewon.Discounts may not be enough.“People will not be willing to visit Itaewon and hang out as long as there are still some scenes reminding them of the tragic crowd crush,” said Lee Eun-hee, a consumer science professor at Inha University.“I personally believe there will be a way to commemorate those who died in the incident in a sincerer and warmer way, such as by building a memorial park.”“Some creative efforts by the district office are needed to revive businesses and to encourage people to visit Itaewon and its neighborhood for happy purposes.”A joint memorial altar for the crowd crush victims, set up by a civic group formed by the bereaved family, is located at Noksapyeong Station, around 12 minutes away from the alley where the tragedy occurred.Dozens of police stand in front of the memorial altar, while members of the civic group stand next to them in the cold.Facing photos of the victims, members of the group hold up picket signsreading, “We ask for the truth behindthe Itaewon crowd crush.”On the Lunar New Year’s Day, which fell on Sunday this year, awas held at the memorial altar. Charye refers to a Korean traditional ancestral ritual. Around 80 people reportedly gathered at the venue to put food that the victims used to enjoy.On Jan. 13, the Korean National Police Agency wrapped up its months-long investigation of the tragedy and gave the results to prosecutors.A total of 23 people said to bear responsibility for the tragedy have been recommended for prosecution.BY CHO JUNG-WOO [[email protected]]
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