Controversy Over Negligent Homicide Charges Against Yongsan Fire Chief Who Struggled at Itaewon Disaster Site

Special Investigation Unit Investigates Police Joint Response Request and 119 Report Handling Appropriateness
"Trembling Hands During Briefing"... Netizens Express 'Dissatisfaction' Over Chief Choi's Booking

Choi Seong-beom, Chief of the Seoul Yongsan Fire Station, is briefing at the scene of the Halloween crowd crush accident in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 30th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] The National Police Agency's Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation HQ), which is investigating the Itaewon disaster, has booked Choi Seong-beom, the head of the Yongsan Fire Station, on charges of professional negligence resulting in death, sparking controversy. Since scenes of Chief Choi struggling to manage the site during the disaster were broadcasted, citizens are finding it difficult to understand this decision.

On the 7th, the Special Investigation HQ announced that six people, including former Yongsan Police Station Chief (Senior Superintendent) Lee Im-jae and Yongsan District Mayor Park Hee-young, have been booked on charges of professional negligence resulting in death, and related investigations are underway. Chief Choi Seong-beom of the Yongsan Fire Station was also included among those booked. The Special Investigation HQ is investigating whether the joint response requests from the police and the handling of 119 emergency calls prior to the accident were appropriate.

In response, online reactions have expressed that the decision is "hard to understand." On the 8th, the keyword "Fire Station Chief" trended in real-time on the social networking service (SNS) Twitter, with over 14,000 related posts. Most netizens referred to Chief Choi’s appearance managing the site during the disaster briefing, saying, "The public saw the fire station chief trembling while briefing," and "I posted a thank-you message to Chief Choi on the Seoul Fire Disaster Headquarters website’s praise section because of this, but this is heartbreaking," expressing dissatisfaction with Chief Choi’s booking.

During the Itaewon disaster, Chief Choi conducted four media briefings on the damage situation while carrying out rescue operations at the scene. He also showed his veteran demeanor by restraining some citizens causing disturbances nearby, saying, "Relief efforts come first now. Please be quiet."

Despite Chief Choi’s calm voice at the time, the trembling of his hand holding the microphone was captured by broadcast cameras, drawing attention online and on SNS. Netizens supported Chief Choi, saying, "Even veterans face fearful scenes. Seeing him work so hard brings tears," and "Facing the tragedy of children like his own, it’s no wonder his hands trembled."

However, the Special Investigation HQ stated that they found indications that Chief Choi did not respond appropriately during the process of exchanging joint response requests with the police and dispatching to the scene at the time of the disaster. The first ambulance to arrive at the Itaewon disaster site on the 29th of last month was an ambulance from the Jongno 119 Safety Center under Jongno Fire Station, which judged that there were problems with the Yongsan Police Station’s handling of the scene.

The ambulance at the Itaewon 119 Safety Center left the center at 10:07 p.m. to transport a patient with head bleeding near Itaewon Station and arrived at the disaster site later than the Jongno Fire Station ambulance. The Special Investigation HQ plans to examine whether the Yongsan Fire Station’s response to the 119 emergency call and rescue activities were appropriate and to prove Chief Choi’s charges.

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