Yoon Orders Prime Minister Han to Operate Accident Response Headquarters for "Itaewon Crowd Crush Disaster" (Comprehensive)

President Yoon Chairs Emergency Situation Review Meeting at Government Seoul Office
"Swift Identification of Deceased and Thorough Patient Treatment"
Two Emergency Directives Issued; Meeting Held at Yongsan Presidential Office

President Yoon Suk-yeol chaired an emergency situation review meeting on the Itaewon Halloween casualty incident on the morning of the 30th at the National Crisis Management Center in the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 30th ordered "rapid identification of the deceased, activation of the accident response headquarters, and thorough patient treatment" in relation to the 'Itaewon Halloween 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, according to Kim Eun-hye, the chief spokesperson.

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 instructed, "Proceed with the rapid identification of the deceased for the families who are still anxiously waiting for contact at this hour."

Regarding accident response, President Yoon ordered, "Immediately activate the accident response headquarters with Prime Minister Han as the head, and Minister Lee to begin preparations for response, including identifying the deceased and conducting a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident." He also urged Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong to "ensure thorough treatment for patients transported to hospitals."

President Yoon is also expected to preside over the accident response headquarters meeting as the damage situation is consolidated.

Just before presiding over the emergency situation briefing at the government Seoul office, President Yoon came out to the Yongsan Presidential Office Crisis Management Center and held an emergency situation briefing related to the Seoul Itaewon Halloween accident, ordering traffic control for patient transport.

Prior to this, President Yoon issued two emergency directives on the 29th and 30th regarding the Itaewon accident.

In the first emergency directive, President Yoon said, "I hope all related ministries and agencies, centered on Minister Lee Sang-min of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, make every effort to ensure rapid first aid and treatment for the affected citizens," and ordered, "The National Police Agency, local governments, and others should promptly conduct safety inspections and safety measures at event sites to ensure that Halloween events held nationwide proceed in an orderly manner."

The second emergency directive was an order to the Ministry of Health and Welfare to dispatch emergency medical teams (DMAT) and secure emergency beds at university hospitals.

Given the severity of the casualties, it is observed that President Yoon quickly issued two emergency directives and presided over an emergency situation briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office, recognizing the urgency of medical teams and securing beds.

As of 4:07 a.m. that day, 146 people had died, and 150 were reported injured.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.