빗속에 놓인 영정…가습기 참사 피해자들 “추모 공간 보장하라”

In a tragic incident, the late Jeong Hee-jin, a former wheelchair user, lay beneath the rain-soaked wheelchair outside Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square on October 17. The Gwangju Movement's representative, Jeong Hee-jin, gathered journalists at the square to demand the government's concrete steps towards resolving the issue of humidifier accidents that caused her death on November 11.

The victims had been protesting at the square since October 14, refusing to be deterred by the city's refusal to allow the installation of mourning materials without prior permission. The Gwangju Movement accused the city of blocking even the most minimal measures to protect the deceased's remains and casket. Despite a supreme court ruling recognizing the national responsibility for the tragedy, the victims still demand a specific implementation plan from the government, including an acknowledgment of fair compensation standards and procedures.

They have also called for the formation of a task force for the second-generation humidifier special law, which took effect on October 8. The victims plan to install a temporary shelter for the public to pay their respects starting from October 18, vowing to continue their struggle even if Seoul refuses to install a permanent structure.