Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over 'Drug Crackdown and Witness Adoption'... Calls for Extension of National Assembly Special Committee

與 "No connection between drugs and prosecution...
Due to the Criminal Investigation Reform" 野 "Second hearing
Summon Shin Bong-su, Head of Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, as a witness"

[Asia Economy Reporters Kum Boryeong, Kim Youngwon] On the 29th, during the 2nd institutional report of the National Assembly's 'Special Committee for the Investigation of the Yongsan Itaewon Disaster and Prevention of Recurrence (Special Investigation Committee),' the ruling and opposition parties clashed over issues such as 'drug crackdowns on the day of the disaster' and 'witness adoption.' Along with this, the opposition party argued for an extension of the investigation period.

Kim Gyoheung, the opposition party secretary of the Special Investigation Committee and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the 2nd institutional report held at the National Assembly that he asked Kim Kwang-ho, Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, "You said that the redeployment of detectives to the front line was 'to crack down on drugs and sex crimes,' but at the Public Administration and Security Committee, you said it was also for 'maintaining order,'" adding, "He spoke as if it was someone else's story."

Kim continued, "Fifty people in detective vests, divided into 10 teams, were near the disaster site. They were deployed from 9 a.m., and the drug crackdown was canceled just after 11 a.m., with cancellation messages sent. What did these people do?" he questioned. "If they had at least blown whistles or conducted control activities, the disaster might not have happened," he pointed out.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, the People Power Party insisted that the prosecution has nothing to do with this incident, emphasizing 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecution's investigative authority). Jeon Ju-hye, a member of the People Power Party, asked Kim Bo-sung, head of the Drug Organized Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, "Due to Geomsu Wanbak passed by the National Assembly in April this year, isn't drug investigation and major disasters outside the direct investigation scope of the prosecution?"

Jeon also asked, "The prosecution cannot direct the police's drug investigations. Although it has come out that some police officers were at the site for drug crackdowns on October 29, did the prosecution conduct drug crackdowns that day?"

Kim replied, "The prosecution did not conduct any drug investigation activities in the Itaewon area at the time of the disaster." Jeon criticized, "However, some media outlets are spreading rumors that Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office declared a war on drugs and that the prosecution's priority was drugs."

The ruling and opposition parties also engaged in sharp exchanges over witness adoption. Kim said, "I publicly suggest that Shin Bong-su, head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, should be a witness at the 2nd hearing." On the other hand, Cho Su-jin of the People Power Party said, "I was shocked to see the witness list unilaterally adopted by the Democratic Party. I cannot understand why the head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Anti-Corruption Division is included here." She added, "I cannot help but suspect the Democratic Party's intention in unilaterally adopting a witness who has nothing to do with this disaster. Shin is the chief responsible for investigations including the Daejang-dong corruption gate and the Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung's case. Asking him to appear before this Special Investigation Committee is essentially a public threat to the prosecution under the pretext of the disaster," she rebutted.

The opposition party also demanded an extension of the Special Investigation Committee's period. Kim said, "The ruling and opposition party secretaries agreed to have bereaved families and disaster survivors appear as reference witnesses at the 3rd hearing, so an extension of the period is essential for the 3rd hearing." He added, "The 2nd hearing is scheduled for January 6, but it is impossible to adopt the final report in just one day." The Special Investigation Committee's activities are scheduled until January 7.

Kim emphasized, "There is a responsibility not only to clarify the truth but also to prevent recurrence. After the 3rd hearing, experts and committee members should gather to hold a public hearing for discussions on prevention of recurrence." He urged, "I ask Woo Sang-ho, chairman of the Special Investigation Committee, to request the extension of the period to the floor leaders of both parties and the Speaker of the National Assembly."

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