Family of Thai woman killed in Itaewon stampede receives compensation
The Social Security Office has disbursed compensation to a Phetchabun woman who was killed in the Halloween stampede in Itaewon, Seoul on October 29.
The incident, which left 156 people dead and 172 injured, occurred as more than 100,000 partygoers and tourists crammed into the narrow sloping alleyways of the entertainment district for the first Halloween celebrations since Covid-19 struck in early 2020.
The Thai victim, Natthicha Makaew, 27, from Phetchabun’s Lom Sak district, had been covered by Social Security Office (SSO) insurance until she resigned from her teaching job on October 30 this year.
She was reportedly in Seoul on a six-month Korean language course so she could teach the language in Thailand.
Since Social Security coverage remains in effect for six months after a person resigns, Natthicha was entitled to compensation of 50,000 baht for funeral expenses and 16,629.98 baht from her pension plus interest, said SSO secretary-general Boonsong Thapchaiyuth on Sunday.
Last week, Natthicha's parents were informed by the Thai embassy in South Korea that Seoul authorities would cover the cost of returning her body by air to Thailand.
The family had been preparing to borrow 400,000 baht to repatriate the body.
