Government "Reviewing Step-by-Step Implementation Plan for 'Crowd Management System'... Police Major Reform TF Activated"

Comprehensive Measures to Improve Police Response Process to Be Established Within the Year

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The government, which is working to establish measures to prevent a recurrence of the Itaewon tragedy, is continuing follow-up actions to build an on-site crowd management system and improve police response procedures.

On the 14th, Kim Seong-ho, Director of the Disaster Safety Management Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters 1st Headquarters Chief Coordinator), stated at a Central Disaster Headquarters briefing, "Following the meeting on establishing an on-site crowd management system chaired by the Minister of the Interior and Safety on the 10th, we reviewed a phased project plan to build an ICT-based crowd management system," adding, "We also discussed a development (R&D) plan to analyze crowd flow and density, as well as accident risks, using closed-circuit television (CCTV) and drone footage."

He continued, "We will proceed swiftly through cooperation with related agencies and experts to ensure that the relevant measures are established within this year."

The government is also working to improve police response procedures through the 'Police Great Innovation Task Force (TF).' It plans to review tasks in various areas such as crowd management improvement, situation management and reporting system enhancement, organizational culture innovation, and strengthening work capabilities, aiming to establish a comprehensive plan within this year.

Director Kim said, "We are diagnosing problems and striving to derive improvement plans from the perspectives of the public and experts," adding, "We will review tasks in each area and establish a comprehensive plan within this year."

He also revealed that psychological support programs are being provided to help police officers and others who were dispatched on-site overcome post-traumatic stress. Director Kim explained, "To help police officers overcome post-traumatic stress, counselors from the Police Agency's Mind Companion Center are directly visiting the officers to provide psychological support programs," and added, "We will make every effort to ensure thorough physical and mental treatment for the families of those who passed away in this tragedy, the injured, and those who participated in relief activities."

Meanwhile, as of 9 a.m. on the same day, the death toll from the Itaewon tragedy increased by one to 158. The number of injured was recorded at 196.

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