Seoul Cheong Delayed Report Confirmed Backwards
Situation Room Head to be Investigated by Special Headquarters
Separate '112 Response System Improvement TF' Launched
On the afternoon of the 2nd, when the police special investigation headquarters investigating the inadequate response to the 'Itaewon Disaster' began a forced investigation into the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Yongsan Police Station, and Yongsan District Office, the entrance of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu was seen. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Sung-pil] During the Itaewon disaster, the National Police Agency learned about the situation only after receiving contact from the Fire Department due to the 'delayed reporting' by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's 112 Security Comprehensive Situation Room. The failure of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's situation room, which acts as a 'linchpin' between the local police station and the National Police Agency, to report the incident clearly highlights the weaknesses in the current police reporting system.
According to the National Police Agency on the 5th, on the day of the disaster, the National Police Agency's situation room received a request for manpower support and vehicle control from the Fire Department at around 10:56 PM. Until then, the National Police Agency's situation room was unaware of the situation in Itaewon and confirmed the crush disaster around 11:15 PM through the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's situation room and the Yongsan Police Station's situation room. Under a normal reporting system, the Yongsan Police Station, which has jurisdiction over Itaewon, should have promptly reported upward to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and then to the National Police Agency, but on that day, the process was reversed.
At that time, the person in charge of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's situation room, Chief Inspector Ryu Mi-jin, was absent. It is known that he was in his office rather than the situation room. Chief Inspector Ryu learned about the disaster from the 112 Situation Team 3 leader's report at around 11:39 PM, which was already 1 hour and 24 minutes after the incident occurred. The situation manager at the National Police Agency, who should have been informed by Chief Inspector Ryu, was already aware of the situation. After receiving the report, Chief Inspector Ryu hurried back to the situation room and only reported to the National Police Agency's situation room at 12:02 AM the next day.
The National Police Agency's special inspection team reported on the 3rd that Chief Inspector Ryu was negligent in his duties, placed him on standby, and referred the case to the Special Investigation Headquarters (SIH). The SIH plans to verify the facts and begin a full investigation as soon as the inspection materials regarding Chief Inspector Ryu are received. The inspection materials are expected to be delivered around the 7th, according to the SIH. If the SIH investigation confirms that Chief Inspector Ryu, who was in charge of overall situation management, neglected his duties leading to delayed situation awareness and reporting, he may face charges such as dereliction of duty.
Separately from the SIH investigation, the National Police Agency has launched a '112 Response System Improvement Task Force (TF)' led by the Director of the Community Safety Bureau to devise improvement measures. The TF will review and propose improvements across the entire 112 emergency call response system, including reception, dispatch, command, reporting system, on-site measures, organization, and administration. Inside and outside the police force, there is analysis that the disaster will lead to the unification of the police reporting system. Unifying the reporting system in disaster response and recovery plays a crucial role in preventing confusion in command operations.
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