Special Investigation Headquarters: "Presidential Office and Ministry of the Interior and Safety Also Subject to Investigation"

Reviewing Legal Obligations
Possibility of Forced Investigation Initiation
Search and Seizure at Hamilton Hotel

The signboard of the Itaewon Accident Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit), investigating the inadequate response to the 'Itaewon tragedy,' was hung at the entrance of the Mapo Police Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 6th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Police Agency’s Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation HQ), which is investigating the Itaewon disaster, reiterated on the 9th that it may expand the scope of the investigation to include higher authorities such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Presidential Office.

At a briefing held at the Mapo Police Station of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the morning of the same day, the Special Investigation HQ responded to related inquiries by stating, "If any institution had legal responsibilities and conditions but took inadequate measures, it will be subject to investigation." The Special Investigation HQ had previously stated in a briefing that "we are also reviewing the legal responsibilities and roles of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and others."

Although the Special Investigation HQ conducted raids on 55 related agencies including the Police Agency and Yongsan District Office the day before, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the Presidential Office were not included among the targets. When asked why the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which serves as the disaster and safety control tower, was excluded from the raid targets, the Special Investigation HQ replied, "We conducted the raids yesterday after comprehensively reviewing the investigation status and legal grounds," adding, "Additional raids will be determined after further investigation." This implies that raids on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and others may be possible depending on the progress of the investigation.

Additionally, the Special Investigation HQ announced that it has launched a compulsory investigation against the CEO of the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon, Yongsan District, Seoul, on the same day. Fourteen investigators were dispatched to three locations, including CEO A’s residence, to secure related materials. Earlier, the Special Investigation HQ had booked CEO A of the Hamilton Hotel, which is adjacent to the disaster site, on charges including violation of the Building Act. Through this raid, the Special Investigation HQ plans to examine whether there is any correlation between the illegal structures of the Hamilton Hotel and the Itaewon disaster.

The Special Investigation HQ explained that Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Kim Kwang-ho, who were targets of the raid the day before, have not been formally booked and are currently witnesses. The Special Investigation HQ raided Commissioner Yoon’s and Commissioner Kim’s mobile phones and offices the day before and is currently analyzing the seized materials. It is expected that once the analysis is complete, the Special Investigation HQ will summon and investigate Commissioners Yoon and others in turn.

Regarding the Yongsan Fire Station Chief, who was previously booked on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury, the Special Investigation HQ explained, "He was booked based on the overall investigation, including fire radio recordings." The Special Investigation HQ added that the investigation is ongoing into the reasons and negligence related to the failure to issue a Level 2 response when emergency calls flooded in on the day of the disaster. The Special Investigation HQ also stated that it plans to comprehensively investigate the facts related to the Yongsan Police Station’s Intelligence Division Chief and Section Chief, who are accused of evidence tampering, based on the related seized materials.