Itaewon National Assembly, 3rd Hearing Agreed for 12th... Lee Sang-min's Attendance Fails

Participation of Bereaved Families, Survivors, and Local Merchants
Informal Meeting Format Likely Instead of Hearing

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The Special Committee for the National Investigation into the Itaewon Disaster has decided to hold the '3rd Hearing' on the 12th.

Woo Sang-ho, chairman of the special committee, reported on the afternoon of the 10th during the ongoing expert public hearing for the national investigation, "I have been informed that the ruling and opposition party secretaries agreed to hold a meeting at 2 p.m. on Thursday (the 12th) with bereaved families, survivors, and local merchants participating," adding, "This will be the last public event before the adoption of the report."

The agenda regarding the schedule will be submitted and voted on as the final item after the public hearing on the same day.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the ruling and opposition parties extended the special committee's term by ten days to hold the 3rd hearing involving bereaved families, expert public hearings, and the adoption of the national investigation report.

While the ruling and opposition parties initially agreed on the schedule for the expert public hearing, they have continued negotiations due to differing opinions on the date of the 3rd hearing.

Originally, the opposition party insisted that Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, who was summoned as a witness during the 2nd hearing, attend the 3rd hearing alongside the bereaved families. However, after discussions, it is reported that both parties agreed not to summon additional witnesses from related agencies.

Accordingly, the hearing on that day is expected to be held in the form of a de facto 'roundtable meeting' with bereaved families, survivors, and local merchants participating. It is also known that the ruling and opposition parties are in final negotiations over how many bereaved family members will be allowed to attend that day.

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