Rabbit Headband Next Is Gaksital... Special Investigation Unit Wasting Investigative Power on Side Issues

Investigation of Witness in 'Gaksital Suspicion'... Closed Without Charges
Need to Prepare for Higher-Ups Investigation... Online Suspicion Investigation
"May Fail to Discover Crucial Systemic Flaws"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The Special Investigation Headquarters (Special HQ) of the National Police Agency, which is investigating the Itaewon disaster, has completed its investigation into the so-called 'Gaksital suspicion' and judged it to be without charges. There are criticisms that the scope of investigation should be broader, including higher-ups, but investigative resources are being wasted on side issues.

According to the police on the 12th, the Special HQ summoned and questioned two witnesses related to the Gaksital suspicion the day before. The Special HQ confirmed that the liquid they sprayed was not avocado oil but the whiskey 'Jim Beam,' and judged it to be without charges, thus concluding the investigation.

The Gaksital suspicion arose after a video circulated on the day of the Itaewon disaster on the 29th of last month, showing two men deliberately spraying an unidentified liquid at the scene, allegedly increasing casualties. Initially, the liquid was suspected to be slippery avocado oil, spreading through online communities. In response, the Special HQ explained on the 7th that it was not avocado oil but Jim Beam whiskey, and that the location in the video was not the disaster site.

However, on the 7th, Rep. Lee Man-hee of the People Power Party reignited the Gaksital suspicion during a current affairs inquiry at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee. He asked Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun about the two individuals involved in the Gaksital suspicion, saying, "I heard that some malicious forces were involved."

The Special HQ also investigated the earlier 'Rabbit Headband suspicion.' This suspicion, raised through online communities, alleged that men wearing rabbit headbands pushed crowds on the day of the disaster. Mr. A, identified as one of the men wearing the rabbit headband, actively refuted the suspicion by publicly sharing his movement route on social networking services (SNS). On the 1st, the police concluded the investigation without charges after verifying the facts regarding Mr. A.

Currently, the Special HQ should be focusing on investigating higher-ups, but there are criticisms that they are exerting effort unnecessarily. The Special HQ stated that they are also considering the Presidential Office and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety as investigation targets, and are already investigating the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Yongsan Police Station, Yongsan District Office, Yongsan Fire Station, and Hamilton Hotel. The Special HQ has about 514 personnel.

Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of Konkuk University's Department of Police Science said, "Police investigations are being swayed by politics. They are unable to maintain focus and are reviewing matters that have already been examined. As a result, they may fail to uncover the truly important systemic flaws."

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