Special Investigation Headquarters Concludes to Send Kim Gwang-ho, Seoul Police Chief, for Prosecution Without Detention Next Week

Yongsan Fire Chief, Itaewon Station Chief, and Health Center Director
All Four Charged with Negligent Homicide and Injury in Duty

Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Seoul City Finalizing Legal Review of Investigation
Police Chief Yoon Hee-geun to Close Case Without Formal Charges

Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, is responding to questions from lawmakers at the '1st Hearing of the Special Committee on the Itaewon Disaster National Investigation' held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 4th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Seongpil Cho and Taewon Choi] The Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit) of the National Police Agency investigating the Itaewon disaster will hand over Seoul Police Chief Kim Gwang-ho to the prosecution next week without detention. Yongsan Fire Station Chief Choi Seong-beom, Itaewon Station Manager Song Eun-young, and Yongsan District Health Center Director Choi Jae-won will also be sent without detention.

On the 5th, the Special Investigation Unit held a briefing at the Mapo Office of the Seoul Police Agency and announced, "We have decided to send four people, including Chief Kim, to the prosecution without detention on charges of professional negligence resulting in death or injury." Initially, the Special Investigation Unit considered applying for arrest warrants for Chief Kim and Chief Choi, but after consultation with the prosecution, they decided not to. A Special Investigation Unit official explained, "After exchanging opinions and thorough consultation with the prosecution, we decided not to apply for arrest warrants."

As the Special Investigation Unit has settled on sending Chief Kim without detention, criticism of the investigation process, which has focused mainly on on-site responsible persons, is inevitable. So far, the suspects handed over to the prosecution under detention by the Special Investigation Unit include Yongsan District Mayor Park Hee-young, former Seoul Police Public Safety and Foreign Affairs Department Head Park Sung-min (Senior Superintendent), and former Yongsan Police Station Chief Lee Im-jae (Senior Superintendent), totaling six people. Except for Mayor Park, all are classified as on-site and operational-level responsible persons. A Special Investigation Unit official said, "Not detaining them does not mean they are free of guilt," adding, "We believe that their guilt can be sufficiently addressed during the trial process."

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

The Special Investigation Unit is continuing legal reviews on the criminal responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, considered the administrative 'upper levels.' Denying some media reports that the Special Investigation Unit had tentatively concluded 'no charges' against the Ministry and Seoul City, they added that a final conclusion will be announced next week. Regarding the complaints against Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, the Special Investigation Unit said, "We are considering the necessity, methods, and timing of investigations." Even if investigations proceed, it is interpreted that they could be conducted in written form.

The Special Investigation Unit, launched last November to uncover the truth and responsibility of the Itaewon disaster, plans to complete all investigations before the Lunar New Year holiday this month. Accordingly, all investigations involving the police, fire department, and administrative agencies are in their final stages. The remaining investigation essentially concerns public officials affiliated with the Fire Agency suspected of falsifying official documents during the formation and operation of the Central Emergency Rescue Control Group at the time of the disaster. The Special Investigation Unit conducted a search and seizure at the Fire Agency last November and has continued investigations by registering related persons as suspects.

Regarding National Police Agency Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun, it is known that the Special Investigation Unit decided to conclude related investigations at the witness level without converting him into a suspect. This means he has no criminal responsibility. A Special Investigation Unit official stated, "Under the Police Act, traffic congestion and safety management in situations of mass gatherings within the region are defined as autonomous police affairs," adding, "Commissioner Yoon does not have the legal obligation to directly command, supervise, or prepare for autonomous affairs."

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