The deaths of 156 people at Halloween festivities in Itaewon on Oct. 29 have shocked South Korea. The government declared a week of mourning, officials at government agencies largely wore black and many affixed a piece of black fabric to their lapels. But before the mourning week was out, the political fallout began — as did attempts to assign blame.

Almost immediately a battle began to define the language that would be used to describe the Itaewon crowd crush. While those in the ruling People Power Party took to calling it the “Itaewon accident,” those on the progressive side opted