기 요한, John Egger

I woke up on Sunday to the terrible news about the crowd crush in Itaewon. At first, I couldn't believe it. Itaewon is only six subway stops from where I live. Fortunately, I didn't personally know any of those who died, but I still feel badly affected. I think everyone in South Korea feels that way. As of last report, there were 156 people dead, and 172 injured, among them 26 foreigners. Most of them were young people in their twenties. Yesterday two of my colleagues and I — Lydia from USA (Disciples of Christ) and Emily from Germany (Berlin Mission Werke) — went to Itaewon to pay our respects to those who lost their lives. There is a makeshift memorial there, right beside the subway station, close to where it all happened. Buddhist monks were chanting; news reporters were broadcasting; many people were there just to share their grief. We placed flowers at the memorial and wrote special messages of condolence. It was quite overwhelming. Afterward we attended an ecumenical All