Opposition Party Releases List of Itaewon Disaster Special Investigation Committee... Ruling Party "Refuses to Submit"

Chairman Woo Sang-ho and 9 Others Announce
People Power Party Maintains Refusal to Submit List

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Hyunju Lee, Juni Park, Hyunji Kwon] The Democratic Party of Korea announced the list of nine members of the special committee for the national investigation into the Itaewon tragedy on the 18th. This followed Speaker Kim Jin-pyo's request the previous day to the floor leaders of both ruling and opposition parties to submit the list of special committee members. The possibility of the opposition party unilaterally passing the request for a national investigation at the National Assembly plenary session on the 24th has increased. The People Power Party reiterated its existing stance of waiting for the investigation results.

On the same day, the Democratic Party finalized the list of nine special committee members, appointing four-term lawmaker Woo Sang-ho as the chairperson. Kim Gyo-heung, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee and head of the Democratic Party's Itaewon Tragedy Countermeasures Headquarters Investigation Team, was appointed as the secretary. The special committee members include lawmakers Jin Sun-mi, Kwon Chil-seung, Cho Eung-cheon, Chun Jun-ho, Lee Hae-sik, Shin Hyun-young, and Yoon Gun-young. A Democratic Party official explained, "Based on their experience working in the cabinet, the Blue House, and local governments, the committee will investigate the government's lack of a control tower during the Itaewon tragedy and the issues in the response of the relevant agencies." Lawmakers Jang Hye-young from the Justice Party and Yong Hye-in from the Basic Income Party will also participate in the special committee.

Along with releasing the list, the Democratic Party pressured the ruling party. Park Hong-geun, the Democratic Party floor leader, said at the Supreme Council meeting, "According to today's public opinion poll, 65% of the public believe that the People Power Party should participate in the national investigation, while only 26% oppose it," adding, "The People Power Party should not ignore public sentiment by engaging only in loyalty competition." He continued, "We hope the People Power Party submits the investigation plan and the special committee list by the deadline requested by the Speaker."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The People Power Party refused to submit the list and maintained its existing position. After the floor strategy meeting, floor leader Joo Ho-young told reporters, "Our stance is that a national investigation can be conducted if the investigation results come out and it is necessary, but we are currently discussing how to respond." Regarding the opposition party's plan to forcibly pass the motion at the plenary session, he said, "I believe the Speaker will not proceed with the session without consensus, but we are also discussing how to respond if a unilateral resolution is made."

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