Prosecutors Conduct Third Search of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in 'Itaewon Disaster' (Comprehensive)

Chief Kim Kwang-ho's Office and Four Other Offices

Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office conducts additional search and seizure related to the Itaewon disaster at the entrance of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Naejadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The prosecution, reinforcing its investigation into the Itaewon tragedy, conducted an additional raid on the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 26th.

The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office sent about 10 prosecutors and investigators to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Naejadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the same day to secure records related to work before and after the Itaewon tragedy. This raid targeted five locations including the office of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Chief, the Investigation Department, the Intelligence Department, the Security Department, and the Traffic Department.

This is the third time the prosecution has raided the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in connection with the Itaewon tragedy. Previously, the prosecution raided the Public Safety Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Division office of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 10th and the office of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Chief on the 18th. A prosecution official stated regarding this raid, "The warrant is being executed as a supplementary measure to the previous raids."

On the 13th, the prosecution received the case involving Kim Gwang-ho, Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, who is accused of professional negligence resulting in death or injury, from the Police Agency’s Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit) and is conducting a reinforced investigation. The Special Investigation Unit concluded that although Chief Kim was aware that crowds would gather in the Itaewon area during the Halloween festival, he failed to establish prior measures in critical areas such as information and security management for crowd safety.

The prosecution’s raid is interpreted as an effort to secure evidence to prove and strengthen the charges against key suspects including Chief Kim, handed over by the Special Investigation Unit. It is known that the prosecution plans to decide whether to summon Chief Kim and others for questioning once the analysis of the secured materials is completed.

Prosecutors and investigators from the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office conducted a search and seizure operation on the morning of the 26th at the lobby of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Naejadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

However, it is considered highly unusual for the prosecution to conduct multiple raids at this stage of a supplementary investigation. Typically, the prosecution has conducted supplementary investigations within the scope of the investigation records received from the police. But the recent moves by the prosecution are seen as going beyond mere supplementation to essentially restarting the investigation from scratch.

So far, the prosecution has indicted 12 individuals, including former Public Safety Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Division Chief Park Seong-min, former Yongsan Police Station Chief Lee Im-jae, and officials from Yongsan District Office, after receiving cases from the Special Investigation Unit. The supplementary investigation of 11 others, including Chief Kim, is still ongoing. There are speculations that during this process, the prosecution may uncover additional criminal charges or add more suspects.

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