PCA assigns investigation of Lee Sang-min, Oh Se-hoon, Yoon Hee-geun in 'Itaewon Disaster' case... Considering direct investigation

Government Gwacheon Complex, Corruption Investigation Office./Photo by Corruption Investigation Office.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, legal affairs specialist] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (Gongsoocheo) has assigned the case in which a civic group accused Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and National Police Agency Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun in connection with the 'Itaewon Disaster' to Investigation Division 3.

Although Gongsoocheo assigned the case according to established procedures on the day, the assignment does not necessarily mean a 'direct investigation decision' by Gongsoocheo.

On the 4th, Gongsoocheo assigned the case in which the Citizens' Action for Judicial Justice (Sasehaeng) accused Minister Lee and others of dereliction of duty to Investigation Division 3.

A Gongsoocheo official stated, "We plan to review the necessity and appropriateness of investigating the reported case while considering the progress of the National Police Agency's Special Investigation Headquarters' investigation."

Gongsoocheo will collect basic data to ascertain the facts and conduct legal reviews, but since the police have already formed a Special Investigation Headquarters with 501 personnel and are investigating, and voices from the political sphere are calling for the appointment of a special prosecutor, there is growing speculation that the case will be transferred.

Sasehaeng accused Minister Lee and others to Gongsoocheo on the 1st, stating that despite media reports and related statistics predicting large crowds at the Halloween festival before the disaster, no administrative measures were taken to prevent the accident.

It is known that Sasehaeng plans to additionally accuse Yongsan District Mayor Park Hee-young and Seoul Police Chief Kim Kwang-ho of dereliction of duty and other charges later that afternoon.

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