Police Conduct Raids at 8 Locations Including Itaewon Station... Intensive Investigation to Uncover Truth of Disaster

On the 2nd, a member of the Special Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency is entering Yongsan Police Station in Seoul for a search and seizure.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] It was confirmed on the 3rd that the police also conducted a search and seizure of Itaewon Station on the Seoul subway in connection with the Itaewon tragedy. The police announced a high-intensity investigation into the truth of the tragedy by simultaneously conducting search and seizures at eight locations, including the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the day before.

According to a compilation of our reporting, the Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit) of the National Police Agency, which is handling the inadequate response to the Itaewon tragedy, executed a search warrant for Itaewon Station late in the afternoon the day before. Itaewon Station is suspected of exacerbating the damage by not implementing a ‘non-stop measure’ related to this tragedy. Originally, the Special Investigation Unit planned to conduct the search and seizure at Itaewon Station at 2 p.m. the day before, but the execution of the warrant was delayed due to prolonged negotiations with the station chief.

On the same day, the Special Investigation Unit also conducted search and seizures at seven other locations including the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Yongsan Police Station, Yongsan District Office, Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters’ Seoul Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Center, Yongsan Fire Station, Seoul Transportation Corporation, and Dasan Call Center. This was the first forced investigation related to the tragedy. It is reported that the Special Investigation Unit secured materials related to 112 emergency calls on the day of the tragedy and documents on Halloween security plans from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and others. Through the materials obtained from the search and seizures, the Special Investigation Unit plans to examine whether the police officers in charge who received 11 reports over about four hours before the tragedy fulfilled their duties, and whether the actions of commanders and personnel at various levels who received the reports were appropriate.

According to the 11 recorded emergency calls released by the National Police Agency on the 1st before the tragedy occurred, the police did not take active measures such as increasing security personnel despite specific reports expressing concerns about safety accidents like ‘crushing.’ After the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s 112 Security Comprehensive Situation Room received the reports, they were relayed to the Yongsan Police Station’s 112 Security Situation Room, but only four of the 11 reports resulted in on-site dispatch. The investigation also targets allegations that the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency rejected Yongsan Police Station’s request for riot police support ahead of Halloween.

Regarding the Yongsan District Office, it is known that the Special Investigation Unit executed search warrants on the district office chief’s office and related departments such as the Safety and Disaster Division. This is interpreted as a procedure to investigate allegations that despite holding a ‘Halloween Safety Measures Meeting’ with the police station and Itaewon Station on the 26th of last month, three days before the tragedy, the district office did not establish adequate personnel safety measures. Additionally, the Special Investigation Unit reportedly searched the situation rooms of Yongsan Fire Station and the Seoul Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Center of the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters to secure records related to reports of the tragedy.

Dark clouds are gathering over the Seoul Seodaemun-gu Police Station. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Meanwhile, on the same day, the National Police Agency placed Ryu Mijin, Director of Personnel and Education at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (Senior Superintendent), on standby in relation to the police’s inadequate response on the day of the Itaewon tragedy. The National Police Agency explained that Superintendent Ryu was in a situation where normal work performance was difficult. Baek Namik, Commander of the 1st Riot Police Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Riot Headquarters, was transferred as his successor. It is reported that Superintendent Ryu, as the situation manager on the day of the tragedy, acted as the deputy head of the 112 Security Comprehensive Situation Room, reported security situations to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Chief, and also reported urgent matters to the National Police Agency’s situation room. Seoul Metropolitan Police Chief Kim Kwangho received the first report at 11:36 p.m., 1 hour and 21 minutes after the tragedy occurred, and National Police Chief Yoon Hee-geun first became aware of the incident at 12:14 a.m. the next day, 1 hour and 59 minutes later. The police executive placed on standby related to the Itaewon tragedy is the second, following Lee Imjae, Chief of Yongsan Police Station (Senior Superintendent), on the 2nd.

The National Police Agency plans to request an investigation into Superintendent Ryu and Superintendent Lee, who were placed on standby. Superintendent Ryu will be held responsible for neglecting his overall situation management duties, causing delays in recognizing and reporting the situation, and Superintendent Lee will be held accountable for arriving late at the accident scene and neglecting command and management. Depending on the investigation results, charges such as dereliction of duty are expected to be applied. A National Police Agency official stated, “We will continue to thoroughly verify whether the police response to this tragedy was appropriate and take strict measures such as requesting investigations if necessary.”

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