The Day After Itaewon Tragedy, Assemblyman Seo Young-seok Drinks with Party Members... "Apologize to Bereaved Families and the Public"

Democratic Party Ethics Inspection Team Begins Probe into Assemblyman Seo

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with the party leadership, is paying respects at the joint memorial altar for the victims of the Itaewon accident, set up at Noksapyeong Station Plaza in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 31st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Seo Young-seok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, apologized for having a drinking gathering with local party members the day after the Itaewon tragedy. The Democratic Party has instructed the party's Ethics Inspection Team to investigate Seo.

On the 31st, Seo said through social media (SNS), "I caused concern to many people due to attending a local committee education training yesterday," and added, "I apologize to the victims' bereaved families and the public who are in mourning."

The day before, Seo held a party education workshop with dozens of party members. They had a drinking gathering at a reservoir in the Paju area and later moved to a restaurant in Pocheon for another drinking session.

The drinking gatherings took place on the day President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a national mourning period related to the Itaewon tragedy. At the same time, the Democratic Party had also requested restraint from unnecessary public activities, drinking, and hobby activities.

Regarding this, Seo said, "I received the party's guidelines after departure," but apologized, saying, "However, the event was conducted without sufficient consideration and did not meet the public's expectations." He added, "I will reflect and restrain myself."

In relation to this, the Democratic Party publicly stated, "Regarding the report that Seo held a drinking gathering at the party member education workshop on the 30th, we have instructed the party's Ethics Inspection Team to investigate today."

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