'Itaewon Tragedy' Park Hee-young, Yongsan District Mayor, Arrested... Special Investigation Team Gains Momentum in Probing Higher-Ups (Comprehensive)

Choi Won-jun, Head of Disaster Safety Division at Yongsan-gu Office, Also Detained
Investigation Accelerates on Higher-Ups Including Minister Lee Sang-min

Park Hee-young, the mayor of Yongsan District, who is accused of professional negligence causing death and injury related to the Itaewon disaster, is attending a pre-arrest detention hearing at the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 26th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Taewon] Park Heeyoung, the Yongsan District Mayor who has been regarded as a key suspect in the Itaewon tragedy, was arrested on the 26th.

Seoul Western District Court Judge Kim Yumi, in charge of warrants, issued an arrest warrant for Mayor Park on the same day, following a request from the Police Agency's Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation HQ) investigating the Itaewon tragedy, on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury. The court stated, "There is sufficient evidence of criminal suspicion, and there is a concern of evidence tampering."

Earlier, on the 20th, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office filed arrest warrants for Mayor Park and Choi Wonjun, head of the Yongsan District Disaster Safety Division, on charges including professional negligence resulting in death and injury, following the Special Investigation HQ's request.

Mayor Park is accused of neglecting to prepare safety accident prevention measures during the Halloween period and responding inadequately to the tragedy (professional negligence resulting in death and injury).

The Special Investigation HQ cited circumstances indicating that Mayor Park attempted to tamper with evidence by replacing his mobile phone before the investigation as grounds for the arrest warrant. Although tampering with evidence related to one's own criminal charges is not subject to criminal punishment, it can be considered as a reason for detention.

The Special Investigation HQ judged that, under the "Disaster and Safety Management Basic Act" (Disaster Safety Act), local governments bear primary responsibility for disaster preparedness and relief, making the criminal charges serious. Based on this judgment, it is known that an arrest warrant was also requested for Choi, the person responsible for practical duties.

Judge Kim also issued an arrest warrant for Choi. Choi is accused of professional negligence resulting in death and injury for failing to take appropriate measures necessary for safety management, including establishing a safety management plan related to the Itaewon Halloween festival, and of dereliction of duty for consciously neglecting necessary measures to manage the disaster situation even after the accident occurred.

It was confirmed that on the night of October 29, the day of the tragedy, Choi recognized the occurrence of the incident while drinking with acquaintances but did not go to the scene and instead went home to sleep.

With the detention of key suspects related to the Itaewon tragedy secured, investigations into higher-ups are expected to accelerate. Following the issuance of warrants for former Yongsan Police Chief Lee Imjae on the 23rd, and now for Mayor Park and Choi, investigations into higher officials such as Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin and Seoul Police Chief Kim Kwangho, which had been postponed after the initial detention of major suspects, are anticipated to continue. The Special Investigation HQ's process of requesting arrest warrants for fire authorities, including Yongsan Fire Station Chief Choi Seongbeom, which has been practically formalized, may also proceed faster than planned.

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