University of Kentucky mourns loss of student killed in South Korea during crowd surge
The University of Kentucky is mourning the loss of a student who was killed during a crowd surge in the capitol of South Korea that left 150 individuals dead.
Junior nursing major Anne Gieske, of Northern Kentucky, was one of the tragedy’s victims.
The surge happened on Saturday night, resulting in many young adults being crushed after a huge Halloween party crowd surged into a narrow alley in a nightlife district in Seoul.
In a statement from UK President Eli Capilouto, he stated Gieske was studying in South Korea this semester with an education abroad program.
Two other students and faculty members are still in South Korea and have been contacted and are safe, Capilouto reported.
The university has also been in contact with Gieske’s family.
“We ... will provide whatever support we can — now and in the days ahead — as they cope with this indescribable loss,” he wrote.
He stated the university has nearly 80 students from South Korea at UK, who will also need support in the coming days.
Capilouto stated there aren’t adequate or appropriate words to describe the pain of a beautiful life cut short.
“It isn’t fair, nor is it comprehensible. It is loss and it hurts in ways that are impossible to articulate,” he stated.
The university is offering resources to those in need at studentsuccess.uky.edu/get-help. In addition, if students need to speak with a mental health clinician, they can call 859-257-8701.
This story was originally published October 30, 2022 at 3:17 PM.
