Yoon Exercises Veto on Itaewon Special Act... Early Compensation Plan 'Under Consideration'

According to the Presidential Office and the government on the 29th, the government is considering additional support measures, including early compensation for the victims and bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster before the Supreme Court's final ruling. The Presidential Office believes that the "Special Act for Guaranteeing the Rights of the Victims of the 10·29 Itaewon Disaster, Fact-Finding, and Prevention of Recurrence (Itaewon Special Act)," led by the opposition party, contains toxic provisions, making it inevitable for President Yoon Seok-yeol to exercise his right to request reconsideration (veto power). However, due to controversies such as the luxury bag scandal involving First Lady Kim Geon-hee and conflicts between the Presidential Office and the ruling party, it is observed that simply exercising the veto on the Itaewon Special Act would not be sufficient to regain public trust.

The government is reviewing separate support measures for the victims and bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster, including the establishment of a memorial park and various other support plans. A senior official from the Presidential Office stated, "We can propose additional support for the victims and bereaved families and prepare a memorial space." In particular, it is known that the government is also considering a plan to compensate without appealing if the bereaved families lose the first trial of the state compensation claim they filed last year.

Instead, it is reported that the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on the 30th of this month will review the proposal to exercise the veto on the Itaewon Special Act. The ruling party's position is that establishing a special investigation committee with search and seizure authority and holding hearings for a matter whose investigation has been completed is excessive. If the veto proposal is passed at the Cabinet meeting, President Yoon is expected to review and approve it. The Itaewon Special Act was sent to the government on the 19th, and the president must decide whether to exercise the veto by the 4th of next month.

The announcement of the government's additional support measures is also expected to coincide with the timing of President Yoon's exercise of the veto on the Itaewon Special Act. However, the senior official distanced himself from political interpretations, saying, "Immediately after the Itaewon disaster, President Yoon promoted support through one-on-one matching between the government and the victims and bereaved families, but it was not properly carried out due to the involvement of some groups."

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