Late Itaewon bar owner who aided victims is officially recognized as disaster victim

The former owner of a store in Itaewon who killed themself after suffering from a traumatizing experience of helping others killed in the 2022 crowd crush in the Seoul district was named a victim of the disaster on Friday, the government said.

The deceased, identified only as Park, operated a bar near the site of the accident that left 159 people killed, according to the Interior Ministry.

Park helped transport injured people to hospitals at the time of the disaster, but had suffered from physical and psychological trauma before being found dead at the age of 37 in April 2025.

"The government will continue to make sure all necessary support is provided to the victims and their bereaved families while protecting their honor and privacy," a ministry official said.

If you or someone you know is feeling emotionally distressed or struggling with thoughts of suicide, LifeLine Korea can be contacted at 1588-9191 or the Crisis Counseling Center at 1577-0199. The Seoul Global Center offers English-language counseling, contact 02-2075-4180 (+1) to arrange a session. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.

Yonhap