"Did They Possibly Take Drugs?" Conspiracy Theories and Rumors Spread About the Itaewon Tragedy

Speculations on Causes Like Drugs Flood Online
Police "No Confirmation of Drug Link"... Political Circles "Must Stop Fake News"

On the morning of the 30th, fire officials are inspecting the site of the fatal accident in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "A group of 5 to 6 people started pushing!" "(This accident) was caused by drugs." Various rumors and conspiracy theories are spreading online regarding the Itaewon crowd crush disaster that occurred on the 29th.

As most of the victims are known to be in their 20s, a wave of mourning is sweeping across the country. However, immediately after the disaster, posts belittling or mocking the victims appeared on social networking services (SNS) such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as online communities. These posts generally ridicule those who lost their lives or were injured in the accident with comments like "Why did you go to a festival made by foreigners?" and "You weren’t even serving the country, just playing around and this happened..."

Unfounded claims about the cause of the accident have also circulated. Some have pointed to drugs being distributed in Itaewon clubs as the cause. There were also rumors about gas leaks. The police stated that no drug-related connection has been confirmed in relation to this crowd crush accident, and the fire department explained that it is unrelated to gas leaks or fires.

On the morning of the 31st, a citizen who visited the joint memorial altar for the victims of the Itaewon accident set up at Seoul Plaza is crying uncontrollably after paying respects to the victims of the Itaewon tragedy. Photo by Yonhap News

On SNS, the hashtag 'ItaewonAccident_Accuser_Male_Investigation' is spreading. This seems to have originated from claims circulating online that "the accident occurred as 5 to 6 men were pushing" during the incident.

The police are reportedly securing and analyzing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage near the accident site to verify the facts. However, some express concerns that many so-called "rabbit headband men" were present at the scene, raising fears that an unspecified number of people might be subjected to a witch hunt.

There was also a claim that a famous BJ (Broadcast Jockey) named K was at the accident site, and that the sudden crowd gathering to see K led to the accident. In response to the spreading controversy, K stated, "Speculative posts are being made suggesting that a large crowd gathered and caused the accident because of me," adding, "Anyone who watched my broadcast knows this is nonsense. It is not true."

Regarding the situation at the time of the accident, K explained, "I did not visit a bar voluntarily but was forced to be pushed into one due to the crowd. The staff told me, 'It’s dangerous now, so it’s better not to leave,' so I stayed inside the building for about 30 minutes and left Itaewon after the police control was lifted."

There was also a claim that BJ Fury, who was live streaming in Itaewon, died in this accident. BJ Fury appealed, "My younger brother and sister who were broadcasting with me are all safe. I appreciate your concern, but for the sake of the victims’ families, please refrain from making unfounded speculations about us."

Voices calling for restraint have also emerged in the political sphere. On the morning of the 31st, Park Jeong-ha, senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement, "Witch-hunt style rumors directed at someone during a time when comfort is needed only cause confusion among the people."

Additionally, on the 30th, senior spokesperson Yang Geum-hee pointed out, "Fake news spreading during a national crisis is an inhumane illegal act against victims and their families, disperses government administrative power, and makes accident recovery more difficult. There can be no division between ruling and opposition parties in overcoming a national disaster. We must cooperate across party lines to stop fake news spreading like a poisonous mushroom in some communities."

The police announced they will conduct strict investigations into defamation of the deceased and personal information leaks occurring mainly online.

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