Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Itaewon

I had heard about the horrifying 'crush' in Seoul Korea, of course, but to be honest, I am boycotting television right now. I have also cut way back on the news that I follow on line. I've also take a break from social media. After the elections, normal habits will resume. 

But today I heard it for the first time: 'Itaewon'. It is the site of the Halloween crush that killed more than 150 people. I was stationed at YongSan Army Base and you stepped into Itaewon-dong as soon as you stepped out of the gate. 


It was a strange feeling to think of the place once again. It was a grand adventure for a 24 year old woman, and I remembered faces and names and places in a rush of nostalgia. I found a large cache of images from the place. It bears little resemblance to the place I explored with such excitement over 40 years ago.

There is no point to this post except to remember what it was like to be young and alive while remembering all the young and the dead. 


26 comments:

  1. It would be interesting to hear about those experiences in South Korea.

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  2. Tragedies always resonate and disturb us so much more when you have been to the place. More South Korea posts please.

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    1. Being able to put a tragedy into a setting seems to make it all theore real.

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  3. I can't imagine being caught in a crush like that, or even worse, having someone I love die in a crush. It would be horrifying.

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  4. Interesting! I didn't know about your service in Korea, Debby.

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    1. Yes. I spent nearly seven years in the military.

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  5. It was so sad to read about the people killed in that event. It's easy to forget or not understand how dangerous a crowd of people can be.

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    1. I cannot imagine being crushed in a crowd like that. It gives me the hereby jeebies to think about.

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  6. I seem to remember you mentioned some about your time there when your daughter did her travel abroad semester/year. I'd love to hear more about your stay there.

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    1. Yes. Cara did a a semester at University there.

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  7. I've been there (very popular area) and knew it was close to the military base. It's always crowded but not to that degree. I remember being intimidated by all the people and the pushing.

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    1. It always amazed me that people could be so happy in such close quarters.

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  8. We stick to streaming and don't watch live tv and news at all anymore. Somehow, I usually know what is going on in the world, at least in broad strokes.

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    1. I knew about this, but I heard Itaewon mentioned on the radio in the car.

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  9. It is not like South Korea is some tin pot corrupt dictatorship. We should expect better in such countries. This has been so sad, on top of such other sadness.

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  10. It is a very sad thing.
    Any news on M. Le Mange?

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  11. Wot! You've not only lured him home, yesterday or the day before, you've cured LeMange in that short time?

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    1. Oh no. But I think he is making a decision.

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  12. It's good to remember the young days. I can never understand the crushes when people die.

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    1. I just cannot imagine a crowd that large, really.

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  13. My son-in-law was born in S. Korea and came to the U.S. when he was 6. We visited S. Korea a few years ago for the first time. It's absolutely horrific to imagine what it was like to be in that crowd. Wow! You were in the military for 7 years! You must have so many interesting experiences.

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I'm glad you're here!

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