Joo Ho-young "Itaewon Disaster State Audit Includes Only the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Narcotics Investigation Department"

"The Supreme Prosecutors' Office is not related to this case
but agreed to handle only drug investigations"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Hyunju Lee and Hyunji Kwon] On the 24th, the People Power Party decided to include only the Narcotics Investigation Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office as the subject of the Itaewon disaster parliamentary investigation.

Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said in a meeting with reporters after the party caucus on the same day, "The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has no connection with the police regarding narcotics investigations and is unrelated to this incident, which caused controversy. Therefore, it was decided to limit the investigation to only the Narcotics Investigation Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office." He added, "Although we are not fully satisfied with limiting the inquiries to narcotics, an agreement was reached."

Joo also stated, "The Democratic Party demanded investigations into the Security Office, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the Ministry of Justice, and even the Uiryeong County Office," adding, "Judging by the institutions involved, it seems the goal is not a proper parliamentary investigation but rather to turn it into a political dispute, so we strongly objected."

Furthermore, he cited Article 8 of the Act on the Inspection and Investigation of State Affairs (국감국조법), saying, "The purpose itself is narcotics, and if other questions arise, it becomes illegal." According to this law, parliamentary inspections or investigations must not be conducted with the intent to infringe on an individual's privacy or to interfere with ongoing trials or investigations.

Floor leaders Joo Ho-young of the People Power Party and Park Hong-geun of the Democratic Party of Korea reached a sudden agreement the previous day to conduct a parliamentary investigation into the Itaewon disaster. However, when the Supreme Prosecutors' Office was included instead of the Ministry of Justice, the People Power Party raised objections. The first meeting scheduled for 11 a.m. that day was also disrupted.

Ultimately, after further party meetings, both parties concluded to include only the Narcotics Investigation Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office as the subject of the parliamentary investigation.

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