"It doesn't feel like someone else's business." "Terrible things just keep happening at the end of the year."
Around noon on the 31st in front of Seoul City Hall, where a joint incense altar for the victims of the Jeju Air accident was set up. Office workers from nearby lined up during their lunch break to pay their respects to the victims. Some mourners sniffled or wiped away tears.
The Seoul city government set up a joint incense altar in front of the main entrance of City Hall that day. The altar will be operational for five days until the national mourning period concludes on the 4th of next month. Official operating hours are from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., but mourners can pay their respects at any time during late night or early morning.
As citizens flocked to the altar, about 100 people were lined up around noon. The Seoul city government prepared chrysanthemums for offerings at the altar. Mourners offered the chrysanthemums, took a moment of silence, and then left. The guest book contained messages like "I pray for the departed" and "May your journey be peaceful."
Kim Min-woo, 32, who offered condolences at the incense altar, said, "I lost my mother in an accident about five years ago," adding, "Watching the bereaved families sobbing on the news brought back memories of that day, and my emotions welled up," said Kim, choking up. "It seems like the bereaved families haven't even been able to receive the bodies, which makes their plight understandable," Kim added, expressing hopes that they could soon hold funerals.
Ahn Kyung-Min, 45, said, "I traveled to Bangkok with my wife and daughter on a Jeju Air flight this summer," noting, "I think of this as something that could happen to anyone but happened to the victims instead." Ahn then added, "I am considering changing my overseas travel plans next year to domestic trips; it seems difficult to board a plane comfortably for some time."
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also visited the altar that morning. After offering flowers and a moment of silence for the victims, Oh said, "We set up this altar so everyone could express their condolences, and I hope many citizens will gather their hearts together, wish for the repose of the deceased, and convey deep condolences to the bereaved families." Later, Choi Sang-mok, acting president and Minister of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, also came to pay respects.
In the afternoon, chief of staff Jeong Jin-seok and other key presidential office aides came to pay condolences. A representative from the presidential office explained that the joint tribute was to express mourning for the Muan Jeju Air disaster. This was the first public appearance of key aides from the presidential office since President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment proposal was passed. Son Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Enterprises Federation, Yoon Jin-sik, chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, and Lee Chang-yong, governor of the Bank of Korea, also came to pay their respects.
At the joint incense altar set up in Yeouido's National Assembly building, figures from both ruling and opposition parties visited to pay their respects. Lee Jae-myung, representative of the Democratic Party of Korea, Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Kwon Young-se, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, stood together, bowed after a moment of silence, and expressed their respects to the disaster victims.
Meanwhile, local governments nationwide are canceling end-of-year and New Year events in accordance with the mourning atmosphere. For instance, Seoul canceled performances and events for the 'New Year's Eve Bell Ringing Ceremony' at Bosingak in Jongno, opting only for the ringing ceremony. Other local governments with popular sunrise spots, such as Pohang and Jeju Island, also canceled New Year's dawn ceremonies.