Bowed Lawmakers, Weeping Bereaved Families... First Step Taken in 'Itaewon National Investigation'

"Why Wasn't the Reported Incident Reported?"
Fire Agency Intensely Questions Police Agency
Agency Report and Public Hearing to Hold Officials Accountable

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] "Was the police fully deployed at the time of the report?"

"During the time of the disaster, repeated reports of crush incidents were received. Did Song Byeong-ju, former head of the Yongsan Police Station 112 Situation Room, accurately listen to those radio communications?"

"Around 9 PM, after 'Code Zero' was declared, a report came into 112 saying 'It feels like people are being crushed.' Why did no one at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency think to report this to the commissioner?"

The national investigation into the Itaewon disaster has finally taken its first step. On the 21st, when the first on-site investigation was conducted, members of the National Assembly's Special Committee on the Itaewon Disaster gathered again in the alley in front of Itaewon Station where the tragedy occurred, amidst falling snowflakes. On this bitterly cold day at the disaster site, 18 committee members, experts, bereaved families, and reporters mingled, creating a chaotic scene. While questioning the responsible parties was underway, the bereaved families repeatedly and desperately called out for "national investigation, truth-finding."

Woo Sang-ho, Chairman of the National Assembly Special Committee on the Itaewon Disaster Investigation, and members of the special committee are seen paying their respects at the citizen memorial altar for the victims at Noksapyeong Station in Seoul on the 21st, followed by conversations with the bereaved families. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

That morning, the committee members first paid their respects at the joint memorial altar located at Noksapyeong Station. Behind the members who bowed in silent prayer, the cries of the bereaved families did not cease. Woo Sang-ho, chairman of the special committee (Democratic Party), promised, "Since this first national investigation is being started jointly by the ruling and opposition parties, we will do our best to work together to uncover the truth, clarify responsibility, and conduct the investigation to prevent recurrence." Several lawmakers, including Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party, were moved to tears.

Upon arriving at the disaster site, the committee members sighed as they looked down the narrow alley. Fire Chief Choi Seong-beom and newly appointed Yongsan Police Station Chief Lim Hyun-gyu were summoned. When Chairman Woo asked, "Where and how many police forces were deployed?" Chief Choi explained, "I understand about 37 officers. Police were deployed both at the front and rear, but traffic was blocked, so everyone was running toward this side." At this, a bereaved family member at the scene strongly protested, saying, "I was at the site and asked because there were no police. At 11:38, my son’s phone was unreachable, so I came myself. It’s nonsense that there were police; I didn’t see any at all."

At the Itaewon police substation, special committee members intensely questioned the police. Kim Gyo-heung, opposition party secretary from the Democratic Party, pressed, "The serious incident with deaths occurred after 10 o’clock. Did Sergeant Jeong Hyeon-wook or Chief Song Byeong-ju report to their superiors?" Sergeant Jeong replied, "I was not aware at 10:10, but after 10:30, while conducting rescue activities and evacuating people, I became aware."

Also, Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Eung-cheon asked, "This year, with mask mandates lifted, a much larger crowd was expected. Last year, three riot police units were deployed; why not this year?" Sergeant Jeong answered, "I know the police traffic riot units were considered, but I don’t know why they were not deployed."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Geon-young questioned, "The duty officer should not leave the Yongsan Station situation room. Then why did he go to the Itaewon substation and instruct cooperation with media coverage?" Chief Lim explained, "The situation room chief can be either at the site or in the situation room." When asked, "Who gave the order?" he said, "I don’t know if it was his own judgment or the previous chief’s decision. It seems he took all the radio communications and thought he could better understand the situation on site."

At the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, questioning about the incident response process continued. Park Gyu-seok, head of the 112 Comprehensive Security Situation Room, and Kim Gwang-ho, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, were summoned. Lee Man-hee, secretary of the People Power Party, said, "Code Zero was declared at 9 PM, but why were appropriate measures not taken? The situation manager should have been informed and necessary dispatch elements sent. The 112 center of the police agency must be acknowledged as having neglected their duties." Park admitted, "As the lawmaker said, we should have checked more carefully, and there are many regrets."

Police recognized late, no report made; bereaved families in tears

Park said, "The person in charge reported the content because 'Code Zero' was displayed, but upon later review, it was concluded that the site was handled and finished, so the situation was not seriously recognized. Therefore, the team leader was not reported to, and because of this lack of recognition, no report was made. The Yongsan Police Station also learned late in their situation room. Because of the late recognition, no report was made," admitting the problem. The committee members sighed deeply at this answer, and the bereaved families wept.

Criticism was also strong regarding the failure to follow the on-site response manual. Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young said to Park, "I requested the 112 call reception manual but was not given it, so I reviewed it myself. Among multiple callers, duplicate reports should be reported to the team leader, and immediate location tracking and joint response with related agencies should be requested, and 119 access routes secured. None of this was properly followed." Park explained, "Because it was individual reception, it was not judged. It seems communication was lacking."

Especially during this on-site investigation, committee members repeatedly criticized the absence of former Chief Song. It is known that he is currently on standby at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, but he did not appear at the on-site investigation that day. When Chairman Woo asked, "Why is former Chief Song not here?" Kim Gwang-ho, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, replied, "He is on sick leave and said he would not attend."

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