'Itaewon National Assembly Special Committee' Extended for 10 Days... Plenary Session Passed with '205 Votes in Favor'

Next Week's 3rd Hearing and Public Hearing Plan
'Opposition and Abstention' Votes Are Majority of People Power Party Lawmakers

[Asia Economy Reporters Kum Boryeong and Park Juni] The National Assembly's 'Special Committee for the Investigation of the Yongsan Itaewon Disaster and Prevention of Recurrence (Special Investigation Committee)' will have its activity period extended until the 17th.

On the afternoon of the 6th, the National Assembly held a plenary session and put the extension of the Special Investigation Committee's activity period to a vote. Out of 215 members present, 205 voted in favor, 2 against, and 8 abstained, passing the motion.

On the morning of the 6th, tears were shed while watching the 2nd hearing of the 'Itaewon Disaster Special Committee for National Assembly Investigation' held at the National Assembly. (Photo by Yonhap News)

The Special Investigation Committee, formed on November 24 last year, was originally scheduled to operate until the 7th, but the main investigation was delayed due to the postponement of the budget approval. Conflicts during the witness selection process also intensified, making it impossible to schedule the third hearing within the activity period.

From the start of the main investigation, there was a strong view that an extension of the period would be inevitable, and both ruling and opposition parties reached a consensus on the need for an extension. On the previous day, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, and Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, agreed on a 10-day extension. The Special Investigation Committee plans to hold the third hearing and a public hearing next week.

Before the plenary session, at the People Power Party's members' meeting, Floor Leader Joo explained, "The Special Investigation Committee was supposed to operate until the 7th, but it seems there are still unfinished parts," adding, "We have not had time to hear from victims, victims' families, survivors, merchants, and experts, and there is no time left to prepare the report, so an extension is unavoidable."

However, the spark of conflict still remains. The ruling and opposition parties have differing views on which individuals to summon as witnesses for the third hearing. The People Power Party wants to summon Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Hyun-young, who was involved in the so-called 'Doctor Car' boarding controversy, but the Democratic Party opposes this.

At the Democratic Party's members' meeting, party leader Lee Jae-myung raised criticism toward the ruling party. Lee said, "It is very fortunate that the investigation period has been extended, but as expected in the police investigation, it seems to be ending with 'scapegoating,'" and added, "I question whether there is any will to uncover the truth, punish those responsible, and prevent recurrence."

Meanwhile, most of the votes against and abstentions in the vote came from members of the People Power Party. Lawmakers Kim Ki-hyun and Ahn Byung-gil voted against, while Kim Seung-su, Park Deok-heum, Lee Jong-sung, and Jeong Kyung-hee abstained.

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