Democratic Party "Accept State Audit, President Yoon Must Apologize and Dismiss Prime Minister"

Disaster Response Headquarters Press Conference... "Dismiss Minister of the Interior and Safety and Commissioner General of Police, Seoul Mayor and Yongsan District Mayor Responsible"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] On the 6th, the Democratic Party of Korea officially apologized to President Yoon Suk-yeol regarding the 'Itaewon Crowd Crush Disaster' and pressured Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's dismissal, as well as urged the ruling party to accept a parliamentary investigation.

The Democratic Party's 'Yongsan Itaewon Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters' held a press conference at the National Assembly in the afternoon, stating, "It is being revealed through media reports and fact-finding investigations that no one, including the president, central government, local governments, and police, can be free from responsibility for the disaster," and added, "The government and the National Assembly have the duty to provide answers through a thorough and unreserved investigation and inquiry."

The Countermeasures Headquarters demanded four things: ▲ an official apology from the president, the highest national authority, and a comprehensive government reform ▲ dismissal of the prime minister, the Minister of the Interior and Safety, the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, and the Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency ▲ acknowledgment of responsibility and cooperation in the investigation from the Mayor of Seoul and the Mayor of Yongsan District ▲ acceptance of the parliamentary investigation by the People Power Party.

The Countermeasures Headquarters emphasized, "We cannot expect the truth of the disaster to be clearly revealed through a self-investigation by the police, who are subjects of the investigation. The government, as an investigation subject, cannot be the investigator," and added, "A parliamentary investigation is inevitable for an objective and thorough determination of the cause."

They further stated, "It is the minimum duty to the victims, the injured, the bereaved families, and the public that the president, government, and ruling party immediately accept these demands."

They also demanded a more formal apology from President Yoon than the statement he made at the memorial service at Jogyesa Temple on the 4th.

Park Chan-dae, head of the Countermeasures Headquarters and a member of the National Assembly, said, "There should be a public apology or statement, or a press conference apology appropriate to the president's position and authority." Lee Sung-man, deputy head, said, "The apology to the public must be made directly to the people," and "It should also include alternatives on how to improve the system going forward."

Regarding the Chosun Ilbo report on the same day that some party members were included in a Telegram group of organizations involved in candlelight rallies demanding President Yoon's resignation, the Democratic Party officially denied any involvement. Park Chan-dae said, "Just because a name is in the Telegram group does not mean it represents the party's official position," and "Attendance at rallies is a personal decision and action of the members."

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