Prosecutors Conduct Third Search and Seizure at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in 'Itaewon Disaster' (Comprehensive Report 2)

Including Commissioner Kim Kwang-ho's Office and Situation Room

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 the investigation into the Itaewon disaster, 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 disaster. This raid is being carried out targeting the office of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Chief, the Investigation Department, the Intelligence Department, the Security Department, and the Traffic Department. The 112 Situation Room and the Situation Command Center are also reported to be included in the raid targets.

This is the third time the prosecution has raided the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in connection with the Itaewon disaster. Previously, the prosecution raided the Public Safety Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Department 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 charged with professional negligence resulting in death and injury, from the Police Agency’s Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit) and is conducting a supplementary investigation. The Special Investigation Unit concluded that Chief Kim, despite knowing that crowds would gather in the Itaewon area during the Halloween festival, failed to establish preemptive 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 from the Special Investigation Unit. Regarding the 112 Situation Room, former Personnel Training Director Ryu Mi-jin and former 112 Situation Team 3 Leader Jeong Dae-kyung, who were on duty as situation managers at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the day of the disaster, are relevant suspects. The prosecution is reportedly planning 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 in 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 during the supplementary investigation phase. Typically, the prosecution has conducted supplementary investigations within the scope of investigation records handed over by the police. But the recent moves by the prosecution suggest that the investigation is being restarted from scratch, beyond just reinforcement.

So far, the prosecution has indicted 12 individuals, including former Public Safety Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Department Head Park Seong-min, former Yongsan Police Station Chief Lee Im-jae, and Park Hee-young of Yongsan District Office, after receiving cases from the Special Investigation Unit. The supplementary investigation of 11 others, including Chief Kim, is still ongoing. Some speculate 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.