Special commission recognizes 2 late firefighters as victims of 2022 crowd crush

Seoul, Aug. 25 (Yonhap) -- A special investigation commission on Tuesday formally acknowledged two firefighters who perished during the tragic Itaewon crowd crush in 2022, designating them as official victims of the disaster. The two individuals, named Nam and Park, were among the initial responders at the catastrophic event that claimed the lives of 159 people during Halloween celebrations in a narrow alley of Itaewon on Oct.

29, 2022, due to the absence of adequate safety measures. The commission determined that both firefighters had been grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and ultimately succumbed to self-harm as they were unable to obtain the necessary aid. This recognition brings the overall tally of official victims of the crowd crush to 162.

Earlier, the commission had also recognized a deceased business owner who had contributed to the rescue efforts on the night of the tragedy. This business owner, who had also suffered from PTSD, was discovered deceased earlier this year.