"Never Again Will We Experience the Same Tragedy"...Lessons from the Disaster Embedded in Space

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Chan-hyuk] On the 30th, Hwaseong Special City held the "26th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony for the Seoland Fire Disaster Victims" at the newly established memorial park near Gungpyeong Tourist Area in Seoshin-myeon.

The ceremony was organized to remember the victims together with the newly created memorial park and to reaffirm the commitment that such tragedy will never be repeated.

The event was attended by approximately 100 people, including bereaved families, Mayor Jung Myung-keun of Hwaseong City, and Chairman Park Jeong-soo of the Hwaseong City Council, who together mourned the tragic loss of precious lives 26 years ago and expressed deep condolences.

The ceremony began with a performance by a children's choir, followed by a eulogy, recitations of memorial addresses and memorial poems by bereaved families, and commemorative performances. Following the closing ceremony, participants moved to the memorial park for a flower offering ceremony, concluding the event in a solemn and warm atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the city established a memorial park honoring the victims of the Seoland fire disaster within Gungpyeong Tourist Area in Baekmi-ri, Seoshin-myeon. Spanning 576 square meters and themed around a "Safe Haven," the park features memorial sculptures and an inscribed stone with the memorial poem "Where Have You Gone, Child" written by poet Park Kyung-ran for bereaved families. The park was designed as a symbolic space to remember the pain of the Seoland fire disaster and to renew awareness of the importance of safety, and was established at the site of the original accident in reflection of the bereaved families' wishes.

Mayor Jung Myung-keun of Hwaseong City stated, "I hope the memorial park will transcend being merely a space for mourning and become a symbolic place where everyone renews the value of safety and pledges that such suffering will never recur," adding, "We will do our best going forward to ensure that children can grow up in a safe environment."