Opposition's 3 Parties Launch Full Session of Parliamentary Investigation Committee... Opposition Warns "Further Delays Will Prevent Investigation" (Comprehensive)

Holding a Plenary Session Amid LDP Boycott
Approval of On-Site Investigation and Agency Reports Schedule
"Prime Minister Should Be Included Among Witnesses," Critics Say

Woo Sang-ho, the chairman of the special committee for the national investigation into the Itaewon disaster, is presiding over the full meeting of the special committee at the National Assembly on the 19th. On this day, all members of the People Power Party's special committee were absent. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Park Jun-i] The special committee for the Itaewon disaster state investigation was held solely by the opposition parties, as the ruling party did not participate. With the budget negotiations and the special committee for the state investigation overlapping, causing setbacks in the investigation's progress, the three opposition parties decided that they could no longer delay the schedule and approved the entire agenda, including witness selection, on-site investigations, and hearings.

Opposition: "If we don't start today, it will effectively be canceled"

On the 19th, opposition committee members emphasized that the special committee's activity period had less than half remaining due to delays in budget approval. Woo Sang-ho, the committee chair, began the plenary meeting by stating, "Fifty days have passed while the budget approval was delayed, and only 20 days remain for our committee," adding, "As the chair of the special committee, I have judged that we cannot postpone the main investigation." He pointed out that the investigation was delayed because the ruling and opposition parties had tentatively agreed on 'budget agreement first, then state investigation.'

On the same day, Woo also said on TBS Radio, "Twenty-four days have passed, and 21 days remain, but at least four weeks are needed to conduct the state investigation," adding, "Only three weeks remain now. If this is delayed further, the investigation will effectively be impossible." He continued, "When calling witnesses for the investigation, a seven-day prior notice is required," and said, "If we want to receive agency reports next week and hold witness hearings the following week, we must approve the schedule today; otherwise, the investigation will effectively be canceled."

Plenary meeting held to finalize schedule including on-site investigations

Woo Sang-ho, the chairman of the special committee for the national investigation into the Itaewon disaster, is presiding over the full meeting of the special committee at the National Assembly on the 19th. On this day, all members of the People Power Party's special committee were absent. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

With members from the Democratic Party, Justice Party, and Basic Income Party attending, the special committee held a plenary meeting and finalized the schedule: on-site investigations on the 21st and 23rd, agency reports on the 27th and 29th, and hearings on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th of the following month.

Additionally, the special committee independently approved 46 agency witnesses and experts. Witnesses include Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety; Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency; and Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare. From the Presidential Office, Han Oh-seop, Director of the National Situation Room, and from the Prime Minister's Office, Bang Moon-kyu, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, were selected as witnesses. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Yongsan District Mayor Park Hee-young, and Seoul Police Chief Kim Kwang-ho were also included. From the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Shin Bong-soo, Head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division, and Kim Bo-sung, Head of the Narcotics and Organized Crime Division, were selected. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was excluded from the witness list.

The committee schedule and agency witnesses were reportedly prepared based on discussions between the ruling and opposition parties. Woo said, "Although not agreed upon, it is desirable to handle the matters by respecting the ongoing discussions between the ruling and opposition parties." This suggests that the schedule and witness issues were prepared based on mutual understanding between the parties.

Regarding witnesses, Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Geon-young and Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young argued that Prime Minister Han should be included. Yoon said, "The Prime Minister is missing from the agency witness list. He was the person who led the response to the disaster under the President's orders," adding, "Even if excluded from agency witnesses, it is necessary to select him as a witness at the hearing to question him." In response, Kim Gyo-heung, the Democratic Party's special committee secretary, said, "The selection of Prime Minister Han as a witness will be discussed through consultations between the ruling and opposition parties."

'Need to extend the special committee' also raised

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In addition, concerns were raised about the shortened activity period of the special committee due to the ruling and opposition parties' agreement to start the investigation after budget approval, as well as issues related to extending the schedule and submitting materials. Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party said, "Preliminary investigations have not progressed, materials have not been submitted, and expert appointments have not been made, making progress difficult," and requested, "Please start discussions today so that a 30-day extension of the state investigation can be considered when the budget is approved in the plenary session."

Regarding this, Chair Woo said, "I will basically observe the schedule passed by the plenary session," but added, "Consultations between the leadership of both parties and the secretaries of the ruling and opposition parties are necessary." After the meeting, lawmaker Kim Gyo-heung told reporters, "I spoke with the ruling party's secretary, and they are aware that the schedule is tight," adding, "Since we cannot know without trying, we will proceed with the investigation first, and if it is physically difficult, we will discuss the schedule with the chair and the ruling party."

Kim also expressed difficulties in pushing forward the investigation amid the ruling party members' boycott. He said, "The ruling party's secretary has the will and sincerity to proceed. We have reflected almost all the agreements made with the ruling party's secretary in today's plan, although some committee members strongly opposed it," adding, "I hope the ruling party will join and proceed together as much as possible."

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