[Itaewon Tragedy] Police Form Investigation Headquarters with 475 Members... Thorough Investigation of Accident Cause

On the 30th, ahead of Halloween, a massive crush disaster occurred in the Itaewon area. Police forces are controlling the scene and moving busily in the Itaewon area of Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the night of the 29th, the police decided to establish a separate investigation headquarters to clarify the cause and responsibility of the large-scale crushing disaster that occurred in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

On the morning of the 30th, Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, held a related countermeasure meeting at the Police Situation Room in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, and decided to form and operate an investigation headquarters led by the Deputy Chief of Investigation of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

The investigation headquarters consists of a total of 475 personnel, including the Forensic Investigation Team (led by the head of the Forensic Investigation Division of the Seoul Police Agency) with 151 members, the Victim Protection Team (led by the head of the Investigation Division of the Seoul Police Agency) with 152 members, and the Dedicated Investigation Team (led by the head of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit of the Seoul Police Agency) with 105 members. They plan to investigate not only the cause of the accident but also the compliance with safety measures and responsibility of local governments and event organizers. Additionally, they will provide protection for the bereaved families and victims.

The police also decided to form and operate a Police Disaster Countermeasure Headquarters led by the Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency. An Accident Countermeasure Headquarters will also be established with Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, as the head.

Commissioner Yoon ordered, "Provincial police agencies should mobilize all available personnel to ensure prompt identification of casualties and thorough support for bereaved families in cooperation with local governments."

Furthermore, sufficient police personnel will be deployed at the accident site and hospitals where the casualties were transported to maintain order and manage traffic, and all members of the Seoul Police Agency’s security units have been instructed to be on emergency standby.

In addition, the police plan to strictly respond to online dissemination of false information, acts that may defame the deceased, and leakage of personal information. It was reported that Commissioner Yoon visited the Itaewon accident site at 11:20 a.m. after concluding the countermeasure meeting.

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