"Do We Have to Reveal That Too?"... Yoon Hee-geun Expresses Displeasure at Drunkenness Question on Day of Disaster

Regarding Resignation Demands, "I Will Consider It"

Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, is moving to take the oath at the '1st Hearing of the Special Committee on the Itaewon Disaster National Investigation' held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 4th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 4th, Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, said he would "consider" resigning to take political responsibility for the Itaewon tragedy.

On the same day, at the 'Itaewon Tragedy Special Committee 1st Hearing' held at the National Assembly in the morning, Yoon responded this way to a question from Cho Eung-cheon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking, "Are you willing to step down from your position?" Earlier, at a regular press briefing of the National Police Agency in December last year, Commissioner Yoon dismissed calls for resignation, stating, "I believe the urgent task is to manage the situation and restore public trust so that the organization does not falter."

During the questioning, Representative Cho also criticized Commissioner Yoon's whereabouts on the day of the tragedy when he was out of Seoul. He asked, "If the commissioner goes to the provinces, shouldn't the secretariat or the situation command be informed?" In response, Commissioner Yoon said, "It was the weekend, and I considered it a private matter," but added, "This tragedy has made me resolve to redefine my private life, including weekends."

In response to Yoon's answer, Representative Cho pressed again, saying, "What kind of resolution is that? Shouldn't you just take responsibility?" to which Yoon briefly replied, "Yes." Cho did not stop there and questioned Commissioner Yoon about whether he had consumed alcohol on the day of the tragedy. After a moment of silence, Yoon showed some discomfort, saying, "I may drink on weekend evenings too. Do I have to disclose that as well?"

Earlier, on the Saturday holiday of the tragedy, Commissioner Yoon visited Jecheon City in Chungbuk Province, hiked Mt. Wolaksan with acquaintances, and fell asleep around 11 p.m. at a campsite lodging. This time was about 45 minutes after the tragedy began, meaning Yoon went to sleep unaware of the emergency situation in Seoul. Later, at 12:14 a.m. the next day, he received a report on the Itaewon situation from the situation officer and departed for Seoul.

Meanwhile, Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, who appeared as a witness at the hearing alongside Commissioner Yoon, dismissed the possibility of voluntary resignation, saying, "For now, I will fulfill my duties." When asked about how the police leadership would take responsibility for the Itaewon tragedy, Commissioner Kim emphasized, "Rather than irresponsibly resigning, I will fulfill my duties."

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