Yoon Orders Swift Identification of Victims in 'Itaewon Crowd Crush' and Activation of Accident Response Headquarters (Update)

by Lee Kimin

Published 30 Oct.2022 04:03(KST)

Updated 30 Oct.2022 04:21(KST)

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President Yoon Urges Minister of Health and Welfare to Ensure Thorough Care for Patients Transferred to Hospitals

President Yoon Suk-yeol is presiding over an emergency situation briefing on the Itaewon Halloween casualties at the National Crisis Management Center in the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the morning of the 30th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 30th ordered a swift "identification of the deceased, activation of the accident response headquarters, and thorough treatment of patients" in relation to the 'Itaewon crowd crush disaster.'

President Yoon moved to the government Seoul office situation room, where the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) was operating, around 2:30 a.m. that day and held an emergency situation briefing, giving these instructions, Kim Eun-hye, the chief spokesperson, reported.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, and others attended the emergency situation briefing held at the government Seoul office.

President Yoon said, "For the families who are still anxiously waiting without contact at this hour, proceed with the prompt identification of the deceased."

Regarding accident response, he ordered, "Immediately activate the accident response headquarters with Prime Minister Han as the head, and Minister Lee should begin preparations for response, including identifying the deceased and conducting a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident."

President Yoon then urged Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong to "make every effort to ensure thorough treatment of patients transferred to hospitals."