"Waves of Government Responsibility Debate Over 'Itaewon Disaster'... Early Cabinet Reshuffle Possible"

Minister Lee Sang-min and Police Chief Yoon Hee-geun Face Calls for Dismissal
Some Raise Accountability of Prime Minister Han Deok-su
Early Cabinet Reshuffle Possible Over 'Major Disaster Responsibility'... Presidential Office "Prioritizes Accident Management and Fact-Finding"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] In addition to calls for the dismissal of those responsible for the inadequate initial response to the ‘Itaewon Halloween crowd crush disaster,’ there are growing voices within the ruling party advocating for a cabinet reshuffle. Since President Yoon Seok-yeol has mentioned the 'government’s unlimited responsibility,' there is cautious speculation that the reshuffle, usually held before elections, could be brought forward.

According to sources within the ruling party and the presidential office on the 5th, as public criticism of government officials related to the Itaewon disaster intensifies, it is predicted that dismissals of those responsible will be carried out once the accident recovery, follow-up measures, and fact-finding investigations enter their final stages.

First, the political circles view the dismissal of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min and National Police Agency Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun as inevitable, as they have been criticized for their poor response and controversial remarks regarding the Itaewon disaster. Although Minister Lee is in charge of safety-related departments such as the police and fire services, he was slower to grasp the situation than President Yoon Seok-yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and his initial response was delayed.

At the government joint briefing on the 30th of last month, the day after the disaster, Minister Lee said, "There was not an unusually large crowd to be particularly concerned about," and "It is understood that this was not a problem that could have been resolved simply by pre-deploying police or fire personnel," which drew heavy public criticism. Although he has repeatedly expressed apologies and paid respects at the memorial altar, the criticism has not subsided.

Following the release of the 112 emergency call recordings, public sentiment toward Commissioner Yoon, the head of the national police, has worsened regarding the police’s initial response. Moreover, it was revealed that on the day of the disaster, despite large-scale progressive and conservative rallies being held from Gwanghwamun near the National Police Agency to the Yongsan Presidential Office, Commissioner Yoon remained in another area and was asleep, failing to receive reports on the incident, which has intensified calls for his dismissal.

Responsibility is being questioned not only by the opposition but also within the ruling party. On the 2nd, Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, said regarding the police’s inadequate initial response, "Those responsible must be held accountable." Floor leader Joo Ho-young also hinted at dismissals, stating, "After the mourning period ends, we will conduct a thorough investigation into the causes, hold those responsible accountable, and prepare measures to prevent recurrence." Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo, who served as the transition committee chairman, also argued on Facebook that "Commissioner Yoon should be immediately dismissed, and Minister Lee should resign voluntarily after the accident recovery."

There are also calls for a cabinet reshuffle. On the 4th, Lee Jeong-mi, leader of the Justice Party, appeared on SBS Radio and sharply criticized, saying, "This government neither has the ability nor the qualifications to handle the Itaewon disaster," and called for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to clarify his position and for the dismissal of Minister Lee and Commissioner Yoon, effectively advocating for a minor cabinet reshuffle. Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, after a special lecture at Konkuk University on the 2nd, told reporters, "It will be very difficult for President Yoon to continue governing with the current team," urging, "At times like this, I hope the president makes a decisive decision with the determination to start anew."

Prime Minister Han also faced controversy over a joke during a foreign press conference related to the Itaewon disaster on the 1st and apologized the following day. When asked by a reporter, "In a situation where it seems no one is at fault, where do you see the beginning and end of the Korean government’s responsibility?" Han replied, "If there is someone responsible according to the police investigation, they must be held accountable, and the government has unlimited responsibility for the lives and safety of the people." Later, when there was a problem with the simultaneous interpretation device at the scene, Han joked with a smile, "What is the first and last responsibility of the person responsible for the poor audibility?"

Although dismissals or a cabinet reshuffle are unlikely to occur immediately, political circles believe that once related measures are finalized, even minor dismissals or reshuffles could take place. Traditionally, cabinet reshuffles are held before the National Assembly general elections, and the Yoon administration was expected to conduct one between August and December next year before the April 2022 general election. However, given that this is the worst large-scale disaster since the Sewol ferry tragedy, it is difficult to overlook those responsible and the controversial figures. A presidential office official said, "President Yoon prioritizes accident recovery, fact-finding, and prevention of recurrence based on the belief in the government’s unlimited responsibility," adding, "We will closely monitor who made what mistakes and the progress of thorough inspections and investigations."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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