On the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min, who came without notice to the joint memorial altar for victims of the Itaewon disaster, was criticized by the family of the bereaved as a 'thief's condolences'.



Minister Lee visited the incense burner at Noksapyeong Station, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, at around 10:40 am today (21st) without any notice.



After finishing his condolences, Minister Lee moved to the tent of the bereaved, and one of the aides accompanying the minister tried to lift the tent, and the bereaved family officials at the scene protested vigorously.



An official from the Citizens' Countermeasures Committee for the Itaewon Disaster said, "Minister Lee repeatedly asked the bereaved family at the scene to talk."



Minister Lee left the incense burner within 5 minutes of visiting the scene.



The Citizens' Countermeasures Committee criticized Minister Lee's condolences in a statement as "a one-sided affair without prior contact with the bereaved family."



They said to Minister Lee, "As the key person in charge of the disaster, I came to the thief's condolences without words of bitter reflection and apology." emphasized.



"With no official apology or response to his request for resignation, Minister Lee must step down," he said.