In commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the October 29 Itaewon tragedy, a cultural festival will be held in the Itaewon area by youth and citizens who remember the incident and wish for a safer society. The event aims to safely continue the festival spirit that was interrupted on the day of the tragedy during Halloween night.
According to civil society sources on October 14, a group called 'Pumpkin Lanterns Remembering Itaewon,' composed of survivors, youth activists, researchers, and artists, will conduct a month-long cultural project titled 'Festival of Mourning and Safety: When We Sway Together as Glow and Noise.'
This event seeks to lift the silence and taboo that have overshadowed Itaewon every late October since the tragedy, advocating for the right to mourn and the right to enjoy festivals safely. The organizers encourage participants to illuminate the streets of Itaewon with light (memory) and sound (voices and music), swaying together like ghosts or smoke.
Throughout the project, various cultural programs will connect the Itaewon site and plaza. From October 14 to 31, there will be on-site exhibitions in the Itaewon area, and on October 15-16, a booth will be set up at the 4.16 Foundation's Life Safety Biennale held at the Ansan Olympic Memorial Hall.
On the evening of the fourth anniversary, October 29, at 7:30 PM, a 'Fourth Anniversary Reading Cultural Festival' will take place at Noksapyeong Station in Yongsan, Seoul, to honor the victims. Following this, on Halloween night, October 31, at 9 PM, a 'Halloween Action' will be held at the same location, featuring a costume gathering, street march, and performances. An after-party combining DJ performances and networking will also be held at a nearby cultural space during the late hours.
The operational costs and stage setup for the event are being funded through citizen donations via the public fundraising platform 'Social Punch.' The fundraising campaign, which aims to raise 3 million won, has already achieved over 70% of its goal with more than two weeks remaining.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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