"second anniversary of disaster." itaewon...may mourning and hope coexist.

[Anchor]
A few days later, it will be the second anniversary of the Itaewon disaster, which killed 159 people.

Itaewon is still full of wounds of the day, and the merchants hoped that mourning would not lead to a break, and that mourning and hope could coexist.

Reporter Bae Min-hyuk went to Itaewon.

[Reporter]
Enter an alleyway in Itaewon, a mixture of exotic scenery, shopping malls, and the noise of the road.

If you don't look at the sign "October 29 Memory and Safety Road" written on the floor, you won't think it's the scene of the disaster two years ago.

As the sun sets and people begin to gather one by one, the streets seem to be lively.

However, for someone, Itaewon still stays on that day two years ago.

[Park Ji-hoo / Witnessing the disaster] I think there was a time when I denied the number of casualties at first. The sirens of the ambulance still remain a trauma. "Did you have an accident?" I kept looking back..]

Even fewer visitors have not recovered since the disaster.

It's because I'm still afraid, and I'm sorry and careful to say let's go out because I think it's a place of mourning and a space of sadness.

[Itaewon visitor: It feels a bit weird walking around. That's what happened here. It doesn't feel real, but.... I don't think I easily go to Itaewon and drink, but I don't do it. Halloween feels like a taboo right now.]

As a result, merchants do not expect the atmosphere of Halloween in the past, when many people gathered to enjoy various cultures freely.

Rather, I'm afraid that they think I should avoid Itaewon that day.

[Park Ji-hoo / Witnessing the disaster] There is still a feeling of fear. This should be a space where we can meet each other with a smile....]

However, those who still have to live here hope that their mourning will not lead to a disconnection.

While remembering the disaster, I ask you to come and accept it as a space where you can spend your daily life without any burden.

[Park Ji-hoo / Witnessing the disaster] We mourn very much and still live with that heavy heart, but this space itself is the home of our lives and the radius of our lives.]

So I hope more people will visit here to remember the day together and gain the strength to overcome the sadness.

I'm BAE MINHYUK of YTN.

a photographer for
; Jeong Jin-hyun