Itaewon National Assembly Special Committee Begins Full-Scale Activities 52 Days After Disaster... Ruling and Opposition Parties Conduct Joint On-Site Investigation

People Power Party's Sudden Return to the National Assembly Investigation Special Committee on the 20th

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The National Assembly's Special Committee for the Investigation of the Itaewon Disaster has begun full-scale activities 52 days after the tragedy. With the return of ruling party special committee members who had announced their resignation in protest of the motion to dismiss Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, the investigation has launched as a joint effort between the ruling and opposition parties.

On the 21st, the special committee started its official investigation activities by paying respects at the citizens' memorial altar set up at Noksapyeong Station. Although the committee was established through a National Assembly plenary session on the 24th of last month by bipartisan agreement, it only conducted preliminary investigations due to an agreement between the parties to hold full sessions after the budget bill was passed. However, as the budget bill's approval was delayed, the three opposition parties held a full committee meeting alone on the 19th, deciding on future schedules and witness summons.

During this period, the special committee faced a crisis as ruling party lawmakers collectively announced their intention to resign in protest of the motion to dismiss Minister Lee. Nevertheless, with the start of on-site investigations, both ruling and opposition parties have begun the investigation. This followed a meeting between Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, and ruling party special committee members, where he urged their return. Prior to this, Joo and Lee Man-hee, ruling party special committee secretary, held a meeting with about ten bereaved families, who pleaded, "Please return to the investigation immediately, even tomorrow."

Subsequently, the People Power Party special committee members who announced their return held a press conference at the National Assembly, stating, "All members of the People Power Party's special committee agreed that we must participate in the investigation to prevent political strife caused by a one-sided opposition investigation, to uncover the truth and responsibility of the disaster, and to prepare measures to prevent recurrence." They added, "As a responsible ruling party, we will act as a bridge for smooth communication between the bereaved families and the government and will also promote practical support measures."

Woo Sang-ho, a member of the Democratic Party and chair of the special committee, comforted the grieving families at the citizens' memorial altar at Noksapyeong Station and said, "Since the ruling and opposition parties have started the first investigation schedule, we will do our best to jointly uncover the truth, clarify responsibility, and conduct an investigation to prevent recurrence." However, the investigation proceeded amid a chaotic atmosphere as far-right groups and others gathered alongside the bereaved families at the site.

The special committee plans to conduct on-site investigations at the Itaewon disaster site, Itaewon Police Station, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and Seoul Metropolitan Government on the same day. On the 23rd, the committee will visit Yongsan District Office and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for on-site investigations, followed by institutional reports on the 27th and 29th. Public hearings are scheduled for the 2nd, 4th, and 6th of next month.

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