Former Yongsan Police Chief Lee Im-jae Appears Before Special Investigation Team... "Sorry to Victims and Bereaved Families"

Former Yongsan Police Station Chief Lee Im-jae is appearing on the 21st as a suspect at the Special Investigation Headquarters of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency located in the Mapo building. Photo by Oh Gyu-min

[Asia Economy reporters Seongpil Cho and Gyumin Oh] Former Yongsan Police Station Chief (Senior Superintendent) Lee Im-jae appeared on the 21st at the Police Agency’s Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit) investigating the Itaewon disaster as a suspect. It has been 16 days since he was booked on charges including professional negligence causing death and injury, 24 days after the disaster occurred.

On that day, at 8:45 a.m., Lee appeared at the Mapo Office of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency where the Special Investigation Unit is located, saying, "I am truly sorry to the victims and their families." He bowed his head again, saying to the bereaved families, "As a police chief, I am sorry and deeply sorry," and "I will live with the heart of a sinner for the rest of my life." When asked, "You arrived late at the scene on the day of the disaster; did you really not know about the accident at that time?" he replied, "I will answer sincerely about the details during the investigation."

The Special Investigation Unit will conduct a suspect interrogation of Lee from 9 a.m. According to the Special Investigation Unit, Lee is suspected of failing to take prior measures despite being able to anticipate a crowd accident during the Halloween period, arriving at the scene 50 minutes after the disaster occurred, and responding sluggishly. The Special Investigation Unit also plans to question suspicions that Lee fabricated a situation report stating that he reported late to the command, including Seoul Police Chief Kim Kwang-ho, and arrived at the scene immediately after the disaster.

Earlier, Lee claimed at the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee plenary meeting on the 16th that he requested the deployment of a riot police unit to the Seoul Police Agency regarding the Halloween festival, but the request was not accepted. The Special Investigation Unit plans to confirm the facts surrounding the riot police request during this investigation and legally determine who should be held responsible for the inadequate prior preparation.

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