Opposition: "We will hold Lee Sang-min fully accountable"... Push for Itaewon Special Act

Y3 Party Cooperation Begins Follow-up Measures for Itaewon
Lee Sang-min Suggests Possibility of Impeachment 추진

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The opposition leadership has threatened to hold Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min accountable for the Itaewon disaster. They have also begun preparing legislation to establish an independent disaster investigation agency to respond to disasters like the Itaewon tragedy.

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the party's floor strategy meeting on the 19th, "If the president ultimately refuses, the Democratic Party will hold Minister Lee politically, morally, and legally accountable in the name of the people until the end," adding, "We will also promptly begin discussions on legislation to establish the basis for an independent disaster investigation agency."

He continued, "It is necessary to include support measures for the bereaved families, including memorial projects for the Itaewon disaster," and said, "We will seek fundamental measures to prevent the ongoing inhumane secondary harm against the victims and their families."

He emphasized accountability, saying, "The public report meeting held by the three opposition parties, excluding the ruling party which even refused to adopt the report, ironically became a place to reaffirm thorough fact-finding," and added, "Justice and propriety require that those responsible who have not fulfilled their duties, whether political, moral, or beyond legal obligations, must pay the corresponding price."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Su-jin, the party's floor spokesperson, also said in a back briefing, "It would have been good if the final report had been jointly adopted, but it is regrettable that ruling party members, with a firm will to protect Minister Lee, could not participate. This will make subsequent countermeasures quite difficult," explaining, "The three opposition parties plan to cooperate and enact special legislation through an independent investigation agency as requested by the bereaved families."

Regarding the party-level push for impeachment against Minister Lee, she said, "No specific schedule or procedures have been discussed yet," but added, "At this timing, the president showing responsible action by dismissing Minister Lee would be the minimum appearance the president can show to the people, and if not shown, impeachment, which is a parliamentary authority, should be considered according to procedure," leaving the possibility open.

On the same day, Jin Sun-mi of the Democratic Party, Jang Hye-young of the Justice Party, and Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party, who were members of the special parliamentary committee on the national investigation, held a forum at the National Assembly with the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Citizens' Countermeasures Committee and the Citizens' Participation Committee for Fact-Finding to evaluate the national investigation of the Itaewon disaster and discuss ways to uncover the truth. At the event, Representative Jin said, "Although the national investigation has concluded, we will continue to make every effort until we can properly comfort the victims, including bereaved families and survivors, with 'truth-finding, punishment of those responsible, and prevention of recurrence.'"

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