"Is Revealing the Truth Also Political Strife? Disagreement Grows... Rising Opposition Anger Over Itaewon Tragedy"

Opposition to Approaches Like 'Lack of System for Events Without Organizers'
"The National Assembly Will Do Its Job, So the Government Should Do Its Own"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The opposition parties have expressed strong opposition to the issue of responsibility for the Itaewon tragedy being treated merely as a ‘lack of system for events without organizers.’ Although the opposition has repeatedly stated that they will refrain from political strife, there are also protests questioning why uncovering the truth of the incident is considered political conflict.

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 1st and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 1st, Kang Deuk-gu, a member of the Democratic Party, said at a floor negotiation meeting held at the National Assembly, "We must do our best to manage the aftermath and mourn now, but I cannot agree with labeling the uncovering of the truth of the incident as ‘political strife.’ What should the state, the government, and politicians do?" Kang asked rhetorically. He criticized, "Do you think this anger can be calmed by just mourning? Do you think blaming others or the people can hide the truth?"

Kang said, "The National Assembly will do what it must do," and "The government should do what it must do."

He also opposed the government’s atmosphere of defining the Itaewon tragedy as a problem caused by a group event without an organizer. He said, "Is the country’s leader, the president, the ultimate person responsible for the safety of the people, going to try to escape responsibility by talking about a ‘group event without an organizer’?" He added, "The duty of a leader is to share the pain with the bereaved families who lost their children and siblings, to comfort them, and to say ‘I am sorry. The government was at fault.’"

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, also pointed out at this meeting, "President Yoon Seok-yeol’s remarks blaming the cause on institutional shortcomings as if the accident occurred because it was an event without an organizer are very inappropriate during the national mourning period." Park said, "Article 4 of the Disaster and Safety Management Act clearly states that ‘the state and local governments must protect the lives and bodies of the people from disasters or accidents.’ If there is no event organizer, according to the fundamental principle of the current Disaster and Safety Management Act, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yongsan District Office, Seoul Police Agency, and Yongsan Police Station, among other government authorities, should have taken action," he criticized.

Lee Eun-ju, floor leader of the Justice Party, also expressed strong concern at the party meeting that day, saying, "I strongly oppose the government authorities’ irresponsible attitude of debating whether there was an organizer, investigating individual citizens, and trying to shift the public responsibility for a social disaster onto individuals." Lee pointed out, "The most certain way to mourn is to investigate the causes and responsibilities of the social tragedy and to prevent another tragedy from repeating."

Park also stated, "Although the National Assembly is currently in the period of managing the aftermath and mourning, today we will hold a meeting of the Public Administration and Security Committee to receive a current report on this tragedy." He added, "Although it is a one-sided report from the government authorities and therefore has many limitations, we have decided to hold a separate inquiry on this tragedy soon, which will serve as a starting point to identify the causes and responsibilities of this tragedy."

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