Park Hee-young, Yongsan District Mayor, "Did Not Receive Report on Itaewon Disaster Day"... Effectively Rejects Resignation Demands (Comprehensive)

"Uiryeong Business Trip Clarified as Official Duty, Not Personal Work"

Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan District. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] It has been revealed that on the day of the Itaewon disaster, Yongsan District Office employees were dispatched to the scene, but no reports were made to Park Hee-young, the head of Yongsan District Office.

On the 7th, at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee plenary session, Park Hee-young responded to People Power Party lawmaker Park Sung-min's question, "When were you informed of the accident?" by saying, "I received a text message from a resident at 10:51 PM."

Lawmaker Park asked, "Did no public officials go to the scene?" and Park explained, "They were deployed." When asked, "Did you not receive reports from the district office officials?" Park admitted, "I did not receive any."

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Cheol-min asked why the deputy district head chaired a countermeasure meeting ahead of Halloween, and Park said, "I am a district head in my fourth month of office," adding, "The deputy district head said he would chair it and follow the usual practice..."

Regarding suspicions that Park did not attend the countermeasure meeting because he was attending a residents' picnic and bazaar, Park explained, "The picnic was in the morning and the bazaar at noon, so I did not miss the meeting due to other events."

While Park stated he would not evade responsibility for the Itaewon disaster, he indicated no intention to resign from his position as district head. When People Power Party lawmaker Cho Eun-hee asked about his current feelings, Park replied, "I cannot help but feel sorrowful and deeply responsible as time cannot be turned back," adding, "I arrived at the scene, conducted emergency rescue activities, and ordered countermeasures, but it was insufficient." He continued, "I was worried about causing further pain to the bereaved families, so I could not respond to media questions. I feel like a sinner," and said, "As the district head, I will not evade responsibility and will sincerely engage in fact-finding."

Lawmaker Cho asked, "How should we understand your statement that you will not evade responsibility?" Park explained, "I meant it in terms of the district head's infinite responsibility to protect the safety of the people." When asked again, "Specifically, what responsibility?" Park only answered, "A heartfelt responsibility for the great sacrifice."

Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in raised suspicions that Park went on a business trip to Uiryeong, Gyeongnam, on the morning of the disaster for personal reasons. According to lawmaker Yong, Park left Yongsan around 6 AM, arrived in Uiryeong at 11 AM, had a brief tea time of about 10 minutes with the Uiryeong county governor around 2 PM, then departed Uiryeong around 4 PM and arrived back in Yongsan at 8:20 PM. Park claimed, "That is not true. I scheduled the appointment first and went down. It was official business, not personal."

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