Opposition: "Yongsan Police Had No Choice but to Focus on the President... Disaster Resulted from Relocation Without Thorough Planning"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the memorial space for the victims of the Itaewon disaster set up at Exit 1 of Itaewon Station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 8th, observing the condolence messages left by citizens. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The Democratic Party of Korea raised questions about the responsibility for the Itaewon tragedy caused by the presidential office's relocation to Yongsan on the 8th. It is argued that the police neglected crisis response during the disaster out of fear of reprimands from the presidential office rather than public complaints.

Oh Young-hwan, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, commented on the day, "The president and the state exist only when the people exist," adding, "The result of forgetting this obvious fact led to the tragedy."

Spokesperson Oh claimed, "The Yongsan Police Station's prior internal report predicted a crowd on the day of the Itaewon tragedy, but it was ignored with instructions to focus on gatherings around the presidential office," and "Since the workload at Yongsan Police Station increased by 10,048 hours compared to the same period last year after the presidential office relocation, the station had no choice but to concentrate on handling the presidential office."

He continued, "The police were more afraid of reprimands from the presidential office than public complaints, and it must have been difficult to handle the orders coming from the presidential office."

Spokesperson Oh pointed out, "In protecting the president, the safety of the people, public security duties related to livelihoods, and even the working conditions of the police were all neglected," adding, "Since this is the result of the presidential office relocation forced without thorough planning, the president cannot escape responsibility."

He further stated, "Under these circumstances, the special investigation unit's 'self-investigation' and 'investigation of higher-ups' clearly have limitations," and "To clearly identify the responsibility for failing to prevent the tragedy, there is no answer but an unreserved national audit."

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