(LEAD) Japanese lawmakers pay respects to Itaewon victims during Seoul visit

All News 20:47 November 02, 2022

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with lawmakers' visit; ADDS photo)

SEOUL, Nov. 2 (Yonhap) -- An 18-member delegation of Japanese lawmakers, affiliated with the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union, paid their respects on Wednesday to victims of a deadly crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood.

Led by Fukushiro Nukaga, a member of Japan's House of Representatives, the lawmakers visited a mourning altar at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall after their arrival at Gimpo International Airport.

They were accompanied by five South Korean members of the union, including Rep. Chung Jin-suk, leader of the ruling People Power Party, and Rep. Yun Ho-jung of the main opposition Democratic Party, during the visit.

Japanese lawmakers affiliated with the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union pay tribute in front of a memorial altar at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall on Nov. 2, 2022, for victims of a deadly crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood. (Yonhap)

Chung hosted a welcome dinner for the Japanese lawmakers later in the day.

Their visit comes in line with the 50th anniversary of the union aimed at increasing parliamentary exchanges between the two countries.

On Thursday, the union plans to hold a general meeting bringing together members from both countries as well as South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Aiboshi.

The Japanese lawmakers will return home Friday, wrapping up their three-day visit to Korea.