Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, Received First Report on 'Itaewon Disaster' After 1 Hour 59 Minutes (Comprehensive)

by Cho Seongpill

Published 02 Nov.2022 20:43(KST)

Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, is deep in thought after making a statement regarding the 'Itaewon tragedy' at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 1st. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] It has been confirmed that Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, first became aware of the 'Itaewon Disaster' 1 hour and 59 minutes after it occurred.

On the 2nd, the National Police Agency announced that Commissioner Yoon was first reported the disaster by the Situation Officer 1 of the National Police Agency at 12:14 a.m. on the 30th of last month. This was 1 hour and 59 minutes after 10:15 p.m. on the 29th, the time when the crush disaster in Itaewon is understood to have started.

Five minutes after receiving the first report, at 12:19 a.m., Commissioner Yoon called Kim Kwang-ho, Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and instructed the maximum mobilization of available personnel including the riot police, rapid response for maintaining order, and securing ambulance access routes. Chief Kim had already been aware of the disaster 43 minutes before receiving the call from Commissioner Yoon, through a conversation with the Chief of Yongsan Police Station.

It was also confirmed that Commissioner Yoon arrived at the National Police Agency and presided over a command meeting only 4 hours and 15 minutes after the accident (2:30 a.m. on the 30th), at which time the fire department had reported that the death toll was 59.

The time when Commissioner Yoon became aware of the incident was 54 minutes later than his superior, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min (11:20 p.m. on the 29th), and 1 hour and 13 minutes later than President Yoon Seok-yeol (11:01 p.m. on the 29th).