[Full Text] On the Day of the Itaewon Disaster, 112 Call Recording Reveals... "Feels Like I'm Going to Be Crushed" Four Hours Earlier

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] According to the '112 Emergency Call Recordings Before the Itaewon Incident' released by the National Police Agency on the 1st, it is evident that there were warning signs of danger on the day of the tragedy. From the first report at 6:34 PM on the 29th, the day of the incident, until 10:11 PM, four minutes before the accident occurred, a total of 11 calls were received.

Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated, "We have determined that the on-site response to the 112 calls was inadequate," and added, "To clearly uncover the truth of this incident and hold those responsible accountable, we will conduct thorough and rigorous inspections and investigations swiftly and without exception in all areas."

Below is the full transcript of the recordings.

Police Officer - Emergency call 112.

Caller - This is the entrance to Itaewon Main Street.

Police Officer - Itaewon Main Street, yes.

Caller - Hello, near the alley by the Hamilton Hotel on the way to the club, there is an Emart24 convenience store.

Police Officer - Emart24 in the alley by the Hamilton Hotel?

Caller - Yes, that alley is very crowded with people going up and down. It's very unsafe. People can't come down, but they keep pushing up, and it feels like a crush will happen. I barely got out, but the crowd is too large. You need to control it.

Police Officer - So, people are not able to pass each other properly, and if they get pushed and fall, a big accident might happen?

Caller - Yes, yes. It's very chilling. The alley going up is very narrow, and all the people getting off at Itaewon Station are coming up there. The people trying to get out mix with those lining up for the club. If you block the people coming up, then the people coming down can...

Police Officer - The line waiting for the club and the crowd standing in line...

Caller - Yes, and the people coming out from Main Street and those exiting Itaewon Station Exit 1 all go into that alley.

Police Officer - Ah, so the people coming out of Itaewon Station and those exiting through the alley are mixing...

Caller - Yes, no one is controlling it now. The police should stand and control the crowd to let some people out before letting others in. People can't get out, but they are pouring in and moving around.

Police Officer - Understood. Officers will be dispatched to check.

Caller - Kids too, yes.

Police Officer - Yes.

Police Officer - Emergency call 112.

Caller - Yes, is this the police station?

Police Officer - Yes.

Caller - This is Itaewon.

Police Officer - Yes.

Caller - There are too many people here, causing congestion. People are pushing, falling, and it's chaotic. Some are injured.

Police Officer - Yes.

Caller - So, you need to do some control or regulation here.

Police Officer - Where exactly are people falling and getting injured?

Caller - Opposite Exit 3 of Full Moon House in Itaewon.

Police Officer - Opposite Exit 3 of Itaewon?

Caller - Yes, yes.

Police Officer - Across the street?

Caller - Yes, across the street.

Police Officer - Understood. We will check it out.

Caller - Please, thank you.

Police Officer - Yes.

Police Officer - Emergency call.

Caller - Hello, I am in front of the Waikiki store in Itaewon.

Police Officer - Waikiki?

Caller - Yes, in front of the Waikiki store at the three-way intersection.

Police Officer - Yes, yes.

Caller - There are too many people gathered here...

Police Officer - Yes.

Caller - People are collapsing on the street. It looks like an accident is about to happen. It's dangerous.

Police Officer - People have collapsed?

Caller - Yes, they have collapsed, and there is no control. The street is blocked at the three-way intersection...

Police Officer - (Typing the caller's report)

Caller - It looks like a big accident might happen here.

Police Officer - I see.

Caller - It's really serious.

Police Officer - Ah.

Caller - I have a video recorded. Is there a way to send it?

Police Officer - You can send it via 112 text message.

Caller - Ah, okay, I will send it now.

Police Officer - We will dispatch officers to check. Understood.

Caller - Should I send it to 112 by text?

Police Officer - Yes, yes.

Caller - Can I send it from my phone or a friend's phone?

Police Officer - You can use your friend's phone if you want.

Caller - Yes, yes, yes. (To someone nearby: "Send it to 112") Understood.

Police Officer - Yes.

Police Officer - Emergency call 112.

Caller - Hello, this is 00 (static) here.

Police Officer - Hello? (Call quality poor)

Caller - This is Itaewon, Itaewon.

Police Officer - The call is not clear.

Caller - There are too many people, and it feels like a crush is about to happen. We are at a place called Bronze Lounge, 00 (static). Please help.

Police Officer - What lounge?

Caller - Yes, B-R-O-M-N-Z.

Police Officer - What is the situation now?

Caller - There are too many people, 00 (static), and people are being crushed.

Police Officer - People are being crushed?

Caller - Yes, because there are too many people. Please help.

Police Officer - Is this because of the Halloween party?

Caller - Yes, yes, it's chaos, chaos.

Police Officer - Chaos?

Caller - Yes, it's really serious. (To someone nearby: "Okay, okay")

Police Officer - Sorry, could you spell that again?

Caller - Yes, this is B-R-O-M-N-Z 00 (static). This is not a prank call.

Police Officer - Ah, you mean Bronze Bar?

Caller - Not Bronze, behind it, 00 (static).

Police Officer - Ah, the alley behind Bronze?

Caller - Yes, yes.

Police Officer - Should we follow that street?

Caller - Yes, yes, yes.

Police Officer - Okay, officers will be dispatched.

Caller - Yes, yes.

Police Officer - Emergency call 112.

Caller - Hello, this is Itaewon.

Police Officer - Yes.

Caller - There are too many people here, and a major accident is imminent due to the crowd pushing. You need to come and control it.

Police Officer - Where exactly are you?

Caller - If you search 'Bison,' it should come up.

Police Officer - I will track your location.

Caller - Yes, you need to come immediately.

Police Officer - Near Itaewon Station?

Caller - (Asking a passerby) Where is this? Next to Bronze. The crowd is pushing.

Police Officer - Bronze?

Caller - Yes, Bronze. You need to dispatch urgently.

Police Officer - Ah, there are too many people?

Caller - Yes, they are stuck, and a major accident is imminent.

Police Officer - This is because of the Halloween event, right?

Caller - Yes, yes.

Police Officer - Understood.

Caller - People are pushing. I am currently trapped.

Police Officer - Understood. You said in front of Bronze?

Police Officer - Emergency call 112.

Caller - Yes, this is Itaewon Street.

Police Officer - Yes.

Caller - There are too many people, and they are pushing each other on the street. It looks like a serious accident will happen. People are panicking. Itaewon, the central road, Itaewon.

Police Officer - In front of which store?

Caller - (Muttering: "What is the name of this store?")

Caller - (Asking someone nearby: "What is the name of this store?")

Caller - Wait a moment. Y. I. 7. 9.

Police Officer - Okay, understood. I will take the report.

Caller - Please do something about the street. People might die.

Police Officer - Understood.

Police Officer - Emergency call 112.

Caller - Hello?

Police Officer - Yes, emergency call.

Caller - Hello, this is the upper part of Itaewon Halloween Street.

Police Officer - Yes.

Caller - Near a bar called 'Meeting Square.' There are too many people, and there is a risk of a crush.

Police Officer - May I check your location? Caller, may I check your location?

Caller - Please track my location. This is near the bar called Meeting Square (background noise).

Police Officer - Meeting Square bar?

Caller - Yes, yes.

Police Officer - Understood. Officers will be dispatched.

Caller - Sir, please come here and control the crowd so that people can move one way, one-way traffic control, please.

Police Officer - Understood.

Caller - Thank you.

Police Officer - Emergency call 112. Hello?

Caller - Yes, this is Itaewon, Itaewon xx (unclear) neighborhood.

Police Officer - Yes, yes.

Caller - Yes, people are about to be crushed here.

Police Officer - There are too many people?

Caller - They are about to be crushed. It's during a festival.

Police Officer - Yes, yes.

Caller - Ah, during the Halloween festival, the situation is serious. People inside are being crushed.

Police Officer - So, where exactly is this? Where is the location?

Caller - Halloween festival site, Halloween festival site, Itaewon Station.

Police Officer - Please give the name of the store or business.

Caller - It's not a store name; the entire street is like this now.

Police Officer - Ah, the whole street is crowded?

Caller - Yes, the street.

Police Officer - So, please specify the location where people are about to be crushed, such as which exit of Itaewon Station.

Caller - Ah, well...

Police Officer - Yes.

Caller - What is this place? What hotel is this? Ah, which hotel is this?

Police Officer - The location where police need to be dispatched.

Caller - Meeting Square? Ah, in front of Meeting Square.

Police Officer - Yes.

Caller - Yes, yes, it's serious now.

Police Officer - Meeting Square, Itaewon?

Caller - Yes, Itaewon Station Meeting Square.

Police Officer - Ah, understood. Officers will be dispatched. Yes.

Caller - Yes.

Police Officer - Emergency call 112.

Caller - Yes, this is in front of Itaewon 108 Hip-hop Club.

Police Officer - Itaewon 108?

Caller - Yes, in front of Itaewon 108 Hip-hop Club. There are too many people here, and you need to come out and control the crowd. Can you come quickly?

Police Officer - One moment.

Caller - It seems very dangerous here now.

Police Officer - You mean the 108 Lounge?

Caller - Yes, 108 Hip-hop Club Lounge. Ah.

Police Officer - Understood. We will dispatch officers there.

Caller - Please come quickly.

Police Officer - So, there are too many people?

Caller - Yes, yes. Please come and control the crowd quickly.

Police Officer - Understood.

Caller - Yes.

Police Officer - Emergency call 112.

Caller - Ah, XX, I want to report. This is Itaewon (Police Officer: Itaewon), hey, how do you say it in English?