Kim Eui-gon, a member of the Changwon Candlelight Citizens’ Unity, wrote in the newspaper
| Actor Jung Woo-sung, a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), listens to a reporter’s question at a press conference for UNHCR’s ‘Polish Mission’ 2022 held at the UNHCR Korean representative in Jung-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 19th. [연합] |
[헤럴드경제=김유진 기자] “Don’t even put flowers in that narrow lane”.
A memorial poem by a citizen draws attention as it contains the heartbreaking feelings related to the Itaewon disaster. This poem is well known after actor Jung Woo-sung shared it on his SNS, and it draws sympathy from netizens.
The poem became known when actor Jung Woo-sung shared his tribute poem ‘I’m sorry, don’t forgive me’ on his Instagram account on the 2nd. The poet who wrote the poem is Kim Eui-gon, a member of the Changwon Candlelight Citizens Coalition. Kim published this poem as a reader in the Gyeongnam Provincial Daily on the 31st of last month.
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The memorial poem begins with the phrase ‘Itaewon 173-7/In that narrow lane/Do not put flowers/Do not pile flowers on top’. The piece ‘How long have 304 children gone / to the stars in the sky’ emphasizes the sadness of the Sewol ferry disaster 8 years ago. Most of the victims of the Itaewon disaster are in their 20s, the same age as the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster, who were born in 1997 (now 26).
The poem goes on to say, ‘I am ashamed of the complacency and irresponsibility of the adults who have caused you to die in vain again/ Now I can’t even show my sadness or even excuses/ I can’t show for you’, ‘So, children, don’t forgive me! / It includes expressions such as ‘We cry in terrible shame’.
Jung Woo-sung also expressed his condolences by posting a black screen without leaving any comments on the 31st of last month.
On the night of the 29th, in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 156 people died as a result of the massacre. 152 people were injured. Joint incense burners installed in 17 cities and states across the country will be operated until the 5th, the national mourning period.
kacew@heraldcorp.com
