Police Agency Forms Special Inspection Team to Assess Appropriateness of Response to 'Itaewon Disaster'

On the 29th, paramedics are conducting rescue operations at the site of the Halloween fatal accident in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] The National Police Agency announced on the 1st that it plans to form a special inspection team to examine whether the police's on-site safety management measures were appropriate on the day of the Itaewon disaster.

The special inspection team is composed of 15 members, led by the Police Agency's Audit Officer. They will verify the overall adequacy of prior preparations, including the establishment of police personnel deployment plans, and will rigorously review the response process following the receipt of reports.

The investigation targets include all personnel from field officers to commanders, encompassing everyone involved in decision-making and execution stages. Through this inspection, the team intends to take strict measures regarding personal responsibility while also devising fundamental improvements for systemic issues.

Earlier, the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul deployed 137 officers to the Itaewon site on the 29th of last month; however, most were plainclothes officers primarily assigned to drug enforcement, leading to criticism that there was a shortage of personnel necessary for maintaining order. Regarding this, Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun acknowledged in a morning press briefing that "the on-site response was inadequate" and hinted at a large-scale inspection and investigation.

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