“Ceremonial occasions are legal… Administrative execution impossible”
Seoul “We will discuss alternatives to memorial spaces”
The deadline for voluntarily demolishing the incense burner installed in Seoul Plaza by the families of the bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster has passed, but the gap between the bereaved families and the city of Seoul has not narrowed and is running parallel. The city of Seoul did not immediately start the forced demolition process, but expressed regret, saying, “The bereaved family is refusing to talk.”
The October 29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Council and Citizens’ Countermeasures Meeting held a press conference in front of the incense burner in Seoul Plaza at 1:00 pm on the 15th, set by the Seoul Metropolitan Government as the deadline for demolition. ”, he urged. Lee Jong-cheol, representative of the council, said, “Unless we find out the truth, punish those responsible, and prevent a recurrence, there will inevitably be bereaved families like ours.” They claim that the incense burner is a legitimate assembly as it falls under the ‘ceremonial occasion’, which is not required to report an assembly under the Assembly and Demonstration Act. In addition, it was said that the requirements for administrative vicarious execution (forced removal) were not met by saying that the city of Seoul did not properly deliver a notice to the bereaved family, but only delivered it to the media.
Regarding this, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is in the position that it has met the requirements for administrative vicarious execution as it has delivered two notices and extended the deadline. The city of Seoul has postponed the deadline for voluntary demolition from the 6th to the 8th, and again from the 8th to 1:00 p.m.
While leaving open the possibility of forced demolition without further extension of the deadline, the city of Seoul announced that it would discuss alternatives to the memorial space with the bereaved family.
Reporters Kim Jeong-hwa and Jang Jin-bok
