Long-delayed funeral for Yongsan fire victims held in Seoul

SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- Funeral services were held Saturday for five squatters,
355 days after they were killed during a clash with police trying to evict them
from a dilapidated building to be demolished for a city re-development.
The five, all tenants of the five-story building in Seoul's Yongsan district,
were holding up on the rooftop when police tried to remove them. They were burned
to death in a fire that erupted during the clash. One police officer was also
killed.
The incident quickly became a political issue as critics accused the government
of using excessive police power against underprivileged people which caused heavy
casualties. Prime Minister Chung Un-chan was forced to offer an apology.
The funeral had been delayed due to differences over compensations between
redevelopers and the families of the victims. After drawn-out negotiations, the
two sides reached a settlement on Dec. 30.
About 5,000 people, including opposition politicians, attended the outdoor
funeral. The funeral for the policeman killed was held last year, two days after
the incident.
The funeral was followed by a massive street march by citizens carrying the
coffins of the victims and large portraits of them.
"We are now able to bury those victims who have been in a cold storage warehouse
for nearly a year. May they rest in peace," Lee Kang-sil, head of the organizing
committee for the funeral said in his speech.
Jeon Jae-sook, widow of Lee Sang-rim, one of the victims, said, "I thank all of
you for sharing the last moment of the dead. I hope such a tragic incident will
not recur."
(END)