Opposition 3 Parties Submit Plan for 'Itaewon Disaster' State Audit... "To Be Conducted for 60 Days from the 24th"

Purpose and Scope of State Audit Included
Broad Definition of Related Agencies to Identify Responsibility
"Conducted Solely if Ruling Party Does Not Participate"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The three opposition parties have submitted a plan for a national investigation into the 'Itaewon Disaster' to the National Assembly. They plan to adopt this plan at the plenary session on the 24th if the ruling party does not participate.

The Democratic Party, the Justice Party, and the Basic Income Party submitted the national investigation plan to the National Assembly's legislative affairs office on the 21st. Wi Seong-gon, the Democratic Party's senior deputy floor leader, explained at a briefing after submitting the plan, "It contains the purpose, scope, methods of the national investigation, and the list of special committee members," adding, "The purpose of the investigation is to thoroughly identify the facts, clarify the responsibility of those accountable, prevent recurrence, and create a safe society."

According to the plan submitted by the opposition parties, the scope of the investigation includes ▲ identifying the direct and indirect causes and responsibilities of the Itaewon Disaster ▲ the government's and local governments' establishment and execution of prior safety measures ▲ the appropriateness of personnel deployment and operation in police, fire, administration, and health care sectors by the government and local governments before and after the disaster, as well as overall response measures ▲ suspicions of government and local governments' concealment, minimization, and evasion of responsibility after the disaster, and reviewing support measures for victims and their families ▲ reviewing the government's national disaster safety management system and measures to prevent recurrence.

The institutions subject to investigation include the Presidential Office, the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and other institutions recognized as necessary by the committee through resolution. Witnesses and reference persons will be selected through consultation between the chairperson and the secretaries and adopted by committee resolution.

The proposed period for the national investigation is about 60 days from the 24th of this month to January 22 of next year. The preliminary investigation period is 10 days from the 24th, followed by agency reports (4 days), on-site investigations (3 days), and hearings (5 days). The Special Committee on the National Investigation will consist of 18 members: 9 from the Democratic Party, 7 from the People Power Party, and 2 from non-negotiating groups (Justice Party and Basic Income Party).

Senior Deputy Floor Leader Wi stated, "The basic policy is to encourage the People Power Party to participate, and if not, to adopt and carry out the national investigation plan unilaterally."

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