Opposition's Special Committee on National Investigation, "Special Prosecutor Unavoidable" Over Results Missing 'Upper Echelon'

Special Investigation Headquarters Concludes Itaewon Disaster Investigation... 6 Arrested
Core Figures Including Minister Lee Sang-min Ultimately Excluded
"Expected 'Scapegoating'... Humiliating Investigation Outcome"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 13th, the three opposition party members of the Special Committee for the National Investigation on the Itaewon Disaster in Yongsan (Itaewon National Investigation Special Committee) strongly condemned the police special investigation headquarters' (Special Investigation Headquarters, SIH) scapegoating-style investigation results and demanded a special prosecutor.

On the 12th, Jo Kyung-sun, a witness of the Itaewon disaster, shed tears while speaking at the public hearing of the Special Committee on the Itaewon Disaster National Investigation at the National Assembly. At the hearing, testimonies related to the disaster were heard from eight bereaved families, two survivors, and two local merchants from the Itaewon area. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

On that day, all members of the Democratic Party, Justice Party, and Basic Income Party of the Itaewon National Investigation Special Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office in the afternoon, stating that the SIH's investigation into the Itaewon disaster "ended as a clear whitewash investigation" and that "a special prosecutor investigation has now become inevitable."

Kim Gyo-heung, Democratic Party lawmaker and opposition party secretary of the Itaewon National Investigation Special Committee, strongly criticized the SIH, saying, "They only held frontline public officials such as the Yongsan District Mayor, Yongsan Police Chief, and Yongsan Fire Chief responsible, while shamelessly repeating the claim that it is difficult to hold the actual responsible persons, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and National Police Agency Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun, accountable under current law."

Lawmaker Kim pointed out, "They limited the cause of the unprecedented social disaster that claimed 159 lives to a problem within the small area of Yongsan," and "The SIH gave a clean slate to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Seoul City by arguing that 'it is difficult to see that there was a specific duty of care regarding the risk of mass gatherings.'"

He continued, "This kind of 'scapegoating-style' investigation result was expected from the beginning," criticizing, "There was no summons investigation of Minister Lee Sang-min and Mayor Oh Se-hoon, nor was there a single search and seizure of their offices."

Contrary to the initial declaration to conduct an 'investigation without sanctuary,' the SIH investigation ended without extending to the 'upper echelons,' prompting them to go a step further and demand a special prosecutor.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Yong Hye-in, Basic Income Party lawmaker, said, "Minister Lee Sang-min, who seized police personnel authority by establishing the Police Bureau, did not resign on his own and shamelessly appeared before the National Assembly claiming he bears no responsibility, which led the SIH to produce humiliating investigation results," adding, "Despite clear dereliction of duty and professional negligence resulting in death charges against Minister Lee, the SIH ended the investigation as a clear whitewash, making a special prosecutor investigation inevitable."

He emphasized, "I urge the leadership of both ruling and opposition parties to make a decision so that an objective investigation can be conducted through a special prosecutor recommended by the National Assembly."

After the press conference, when asked by reporters about the 'special prosecutor,' Lawmaker Kim replied, "For now, we have urged the leadership of both parties, and once they make a decision, we will promptly implement it."

The Itaewon National Investigation Special Committee, whose activities end on the 17th, is preparing to adopt a final report. Amid significant differences between ruling and opposition parties, difficulties in adopting the final report are expected, and the possibility of the three opposition parties adopting it alone is also being discussed.

Lawmaker Kim said, "There has been no consultation between the ruling and opposition party secretaries yet. We plan to consult by next Monday," and regarding whether the opposition parties' demand for a special prosecutor will be reflected in the final report, he said, "It might be included at the end." Accordingly, the final report of the Itaewon National Investigation Special Committee is expected to see last-minute disputes between ruling and opposition parties over whether to include Minister Lee's perjury, prosecution of responsible persons for professional negligence revealed during the national investigation, the special prosecutor for the Itaewon disaster, and Minister Lee's dismissal.

Meanwhile, the SIH conducted the Itaewon disaster investigation for 74 days, arresting and handing over to the prosecution four officials, including Yongsan District Mayor Park Hee-young and former Yongsan Police Chief Lee Im-jae, on charges of negligence in crowd management and preventive measures. Yongsan Fire Chief Choi Seong-beom and Yongsan Fire Department on-site command team leader Lee (surname withheld), who were responsible for rescue command at the scene, were handed over without detention. On the other hand, Minister Lee, Mayor Oh, and Commissioner Yoon were cleared and the investigation was closed on the grounds that there is no specific duty of care regarding the risk of mass gatherings in certain areas under the Disaster and Safety Act.

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