'Itaewon Tragedy' Seoul Police Situation Manager on Standby... Request for Investigation with Yongsan Chief (Comprehensive)

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul Police Agency building. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy reporters Seongpil Cho and Byungdon Yoo] Ryu Mijin, Chief of Personnel Education at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) and a Senior Superintendent who served as the Situation Manager at SMPA on the day of the 'Itaewon Disaster,' was placed on standby duty on the 3rd.

The National Police Agency (NPA) stated that "Senior Superintendent Ryu was placed on standby duty due to difficulties in performing normal duties, and Senior Superintendent Baek Namik, Commander of the 1st Mobile Unit of the SMPA Mobile Headquarters, was appointed as his successor." It is reported that on the day of the disaster, Senior Superintendent Ryu, as the Situation Manager, acted as the deputy head of the 112 Comprehensive Security Situation Room, reporting security situations to the SMPA Commissioner and also reporting urgent matters to the NPA Situation Room. However, SMPA Commissioner Kim Kwangho received the first report at 11:36 p.m., 1 hour and 21 minutes after the disaster occurred, and NPA Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun first became aware of the incident at 12:14 a.m. the next day, 1 hour and 59 minutes later. This is the second police executive placed on standby duty related to the Itaewon Disaster, following Lee Imjae, Chief of Yongsan Police Station (Senior Superintendent), on the 2nd.

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

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