Itaewon Tragedy: Investigation Divided into Three Tracks - Accident Details, Safety Measures, and Defamation

From Now On, Police 'Time of Investigation'
Dedicated to Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Investigation Headquarters
475 Members... Full-Scale Investigation Launched
"Compulsory Investigation Possible If Necessary"

Focus on Reconstructing Initial Accident Incident
As Testimonies Claiming Intentional Push Increase
"Charges May Vary Depending on Case"
If Illegal Acts of Public Officials' Neglect Are Found
Criminal Punishment May Follow
Strict Standards for Spreading False Information

On the 31st, officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Investigation Headquarters and the National Forensic Service are conducting an on-site investigation at the Itaewon crush accident scene in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the fourth day since the occurrence, the Itaewon tragedy has entered the phase of police "investigation time." The investigation is being handled exclusively by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Investigation Headquarters, established at the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul. The headquarters, led by the deputy chief of the Seoul Police Agency, consists of a total of 475 personnel. Until the second day after the accident, on the 30th of last month, the Investigation Headquarters focused on managing the scene, and from the following day, when the identification of the deceased was completed, they began a full-scale investigation. So far, no suspects subject to criminal punishment have been booked. A police official stated, "We are thoroughly investigating with all possibilities open," adding, "Compulsory investigation is also possible if necessary."

What Happened That Day... Reconstruction of the Incident

The police investigation related to the Itaewon tragedy is branching into three main areas: ▲the circumstances of the accident ▲the appropriateness of safety measures ▲defamation of the deceased or dissemination of false information. Among these, the police are focusing on understanding the circumstances of the accident. They are examining where, how, and why the initial accident occurred and investigating any illegal circumstances. To this end, the police are reconstructing the incident. On the 31st of last month, they secured and analyzed 52 CCTV cameras from 42 locations around the accident site, and the day before, they conducted a joint on-site inspection with the National Forensic Service and the National Disaster Safety Research Institute. They are also listening to witnesses and injured parties. As of the day before, they had questioned a total of 44 people.

The police are also looking into allegations that some citizens deliberately pushed the person in front during the accident. Previously, on social networking services (SNS), there were multiple testimonies that some citizens on the uphill side of the alley where the accident occurred shouted "Push, push" and intentionally pushed the person ahead. If, as these testimonies suggest, pushing the person in front caused a chain reaction of people getting entangled, charges such as negligent homicide or assault resulting in death could be applied. A police official said, "We are reviewing the credibility of related testimonies while checking the videos," adding, "The charges applied will vary depending on the circumstances."

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

Is There No Responsibility for Local Governments Like Yongsan-gu Office for 'Negligent Management'?

The police are also carefully examining the responsibility of public officials, including those at the Yongsan-gu Office, who failed to prevent the accident. Despite anticipating large crowds on the weekend before Halloween, there have been continuous criticisms that related agencies' safety measures, such as passageway maintenance, were insufficient. So far, it is widely expected that it will be difficult to hold public officials legally responsible, considering that there is no detailed manual or social consensus on the extent to which the public sector can intervene in large-scale events without a managing entity.

However, even if not directly related to this accident, if illegal circumstances such as dereliction of duty are revealed during the investigation, there is also a possibility of criminal punishment. The "compulsory investigation" mentioned by the police is likely to be conducted first in this area. A police official said, "We will keep all possibilities open and investigate one by one, step by step."

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Jongno-gu, Seoul [Photo by Yonhap News]

No Tolerance for Malicious False Information

Defamation, insults, malicious false information, or dissemination of personal information about the deceased and their families are areas where the police are applying the strictest standards. As of this morning, the police have instructed metropolitan and provincial police agencies to conduct pre-booking investigations on 11 posts defaming the deceased. For a total of 115 posts, they have requested deletion or blocking from the Korea Communications Standards Commission and site operators. A police official emphasized, "We will actively consider starting investigations even before complaints are filed regarding malicious false or defamatory posts and the dissemination of victims' personal information."

Earlier, Nam Gu-jun, head of the National Investigation Headquarters at the National Police Agency overseeing the investigation, stated at a regular press briefing the day before, "We are making every effort to determine the cause of the accident," adding, "We are conducting a swift and thorough investigation centered on the Seoul Police Agency Investigation Headquarters to clarify the circumstances and causes of the accident." Nam also expressed, "I offer my condolences to those who lost their lives in the accident and extend deep sympathy and condolences to their families," and "I wish a speedy recovery and return to daily life for the injured."

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