Kim Kwang-ho, Seoul Police Chief, "Never Received Request for Riot Police from Yongsan Station"

'Request for Mobile Unit' Controversy Continues... Special Investigation Headquarters Confirms "Support Request Was for Traffic Mobile Unit, Not Security"
"Request for Traffic Mobile Unit Support Confirmed"

Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, is attending an emergency briefing on the Itaewon disaster held at the National Assembly on the 7th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, stated on the 21st, "There was no request for the Riot Police Unit from Yongsan Police Station before the Itaewon disaster."

Commissioner Kim revealed this during a regular press briefing held in writing on the same day, saying, "We reconfirmed with the Seoul Police 112 Situation Room and the Security Division." This contrasts somewhat with the claim by former Yongsan Police Station Chief Lee Im-jae that a request for the deployment of the Riot Police Unit was made to the Seoul Police Agency as part of Halloween safety measures before the Itaewon disaster but was rejected due to manpower shortages.

Earlier, former Chief Lee appeared at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee plenary session on the 16th and said, "I instructed the relevant department to request the most efficient Riot Police Unit for the Halloween festival, and an officer requested support from the Seoul Police Agency's responsible department." However, according to former Chief Lee, the Seoul Police Agency responded that support was difficult due to numerous rallies and demonstrations on that day.

The controversy over the authenticity of the 'Riot Police Unit request' between the Seoul Police Agency and Yongsan Police Station is currently under investigation by the Police Agency's Special Investigation Headquarters. However, the Special Investigation Headquarters stated that they have not confirmed clear evidence that Yongsan Police Station requested the Riot Police Unit based on materials seized during raids and witness interviews. Statements from Seoul Police Agency and Yongsan Police Station personnel also reportedly conflict.

However, the Special Investigation Headquarters confirmed that former Chief Lee requested a 'Traffic' Riot Police Unit, not a 'Security' Riot Police Unit. A Special Investigation Headquarters official added, "We need to investigate whether Yongsan Police Station staff misunderstood former Chief Lee's instructions and requested the Traffic Riot Police Unit instead of the Security Riot Police Unit, or whether former Chief Lee specifically ordered the Security Riot Police Unit."

If former Chief Lee's claims are proven true in subsequent investigations, it could raise issues of official responsibility for Commissioner Kim and other Seoul Police Agency officials for failing to make decisions to ensure public safety despite being able to anticipate large crowds in Itaewon and other areas during the Halloween weekend. Regarding this, Commissioner Kim said, "An internal inspection and investigation are currently underway," and added, "The facts will be clearly revealed."

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Headquarters began questioning former Chief Lee as a suspect on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury from 9 a.m. today. After confirming the facts surrounding the Riot Police Unit request during today's investigation, the Special Investigation Headquarters plans to legally determine who should be held responsible for the inadequate preliminary preparations.

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