Itaewon Tragedy Responsibility Dispute Intensifies... Yoon Vows "Will Hold Accountable," Targets Police Directly

Lee Jae-myung "The President Must Apologize"
Dismissal of Minister of the Interior and Safety, Police Chief, etc.
Demand for Ruling Party to Accept State Audit
Jung Jin-seok "State Audit Has No Investigative Authority
Responsibility Lies in Establishing Recurrence Prevention Measures"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Park Hong-geun, floor leader, and other party members visited the 'Itaewon Accident Victims Joint Memorial Altar' set up at Seoul Plaza on the 1st to pay their respects by offering flowers. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

People related to the People Power Party, including Jeong Jin-seok, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited the joint memorial altar at Seoul Plaza on the morning of the 31st to pay their respects to the victims of the Itaewon disaster. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporters Koo Chae-eun, Geum Bo-ryeong, Lee Ki-min] President Yoon Suk-yeol’s statement that he will "hold those responsible accountable" regarding the ‘Itaewon crowd crush disaster’ has drawn attention to the level of accountability to be enforced. While the ruling party and government insist that fact-finding must come first, the opposition party has called for a large-scale personnel reshuffle including the Prime Minister to reform the administration. As the national mourning period ends, the political sphere is expected to see the ‘public demand for accountability’ intensify.

On the 7th, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, pressed President Yoon repeatedly for a public apology at the Supreme Council meeting, saying, "The president, as the ultimate person responsible for this entire tragedy and the final authority of the state, needs to apologize sincerely and solemnly." He added, "Responsibility is not about words but actions," and said, "The public is asking where the government was and why the state failed to function properly. A complete overhaul of the administration, including the resignation of the Prime Minister, is absolutely necessary, and this is the first step in taking responsibility."

Lee also argued that the administration must reform by including a public apology from the president and dismissing the Minister of the Interior and Safety, the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, and the Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. He also demanded that the ruling People Power Party accept a parliamentary audit.

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, criticized, "During the collapses of the Sampoong Department Store, the Sewol ferry disaster, and the humidifier disinfectant scandal, parliamentary audits were conducted alongside police and prosecution investigations," and added, "The government is shirking responsibility by making excuses and delaying the parliamentary audit, neglecting the National Assembly’s duty." He warned, "If the government tries to hide the truth to cover up incompetence and irresponsibility, the public will not remain silent," and emphasized, "Parliamentary audits have legal enforcement power and serve as a major basis for judicial action."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 2nd and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 2nd and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The People Power Party took a counterattack stance rather than a defensive one. At the emergency meeting of the party’s Emergency Response Committee, Jeong Jin-seok, the committee chairman, questioned, "Whenever a major incident occurs, the Democratic Party launches a campaign for regime resignation as if it’s their moment. What did they do to prevent recurrence when they were in power?" He added, "After the mourning period ends, it is the duty of the National Assembly and political circles to clarify the full details of the incident and prepare measures to prevent recurrence."

He further warned the Democratic Party, saying, "Stop the petty politics of campaigning for regime resignation immediately." Jeong also criticized, "Is the Democratic Party, which tries to remove the president chosen by the people’s precious votes just five months into his term, treating the public like fools? They completely tied the prosecution’s hands with the ‘complete prosecution reform’ law and now, not trusting the police investigation, demand a parliamentary audit. What truth can be revealed through a parliamentary audit that has no investigative authority?" Floor leader Joo Ho-young said, "After the Itaewon disaster, instead of wasting time on political strife and budget waste over fact-finding, we should focus on prevention measures and work on building systems."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a memorial speech at the 'Itaewon Disaster Victims Memorial Buddhist Service' held at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 4th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 4th, Buddhists are offering flowers at the 'Memorial Service for the Victims of the Itaewon Disaster' held at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Inside and outside the presidential office, there is caution against overinterpretation of President Yoon’s remarks. The statement about holding strict accountability is understood as part of identifying the cause of the accident and preventing recurrence. A senior presidential office official explained that in previous years during Halloween, the police managed crowd control and road closures in Itaewon, but this year’s preemptive measures were insufficient and the response to the disaster was delayed. The official said, "The national mourning period is over, but in reality, nothing has ended," and emphasized, "There is a fundamental position that responsibility must be held for this preventable disaster that occurred (including by President Yoon)."

Another senior official said, "President Yoon is determined to thoroughly investigate the causes and establish new disaster safety measures to prevent future disasters and crowd-related accidents," and explained, "If the cause of the accident is properly identified, responsible parties will naturally be revealed, and disciplinary actions will follow as a matter of course."

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