Democratic, Justice, and Basic Income Parties Submit Request for National Investigation into 'Itaewon Disaster'

Submission of Request for National Investigation into Itaewon Disaster Truth Verification

The Democratic Party of Korea, the Justice Party, and the Basic Income Party jointly submitted a request for a national investigation into the 'Itaewon crowd crush disaster' to the National Assembly on the 9th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The Democratic Party of Korea, the Justice Party, and the Basic Income Party jointly submitted a request for a national investigation into the 'Itaewon crowd crush disaster' to the National Assembly on the 9th.

The request for the national investigation is expected to proceed with follow-up procedures after being reported at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 10th. The opposition parties believe it can be processed at the latest during the plenary session scheduled for the 24th.

Wi Seong-gon, the Democratic Party's senior deputy floor leader; Jang Hye-young, the Justice Party's senior deputy floor leader; and Yong Hye-in, a Basic Income Party lawmaker, visited the National Assembly's legislative affairs office around 2:30 p.m. that day to submit the request. The request calls for identifying the causes of the Itaewon disaster and clarifying the direct and indirect causes and responsibilities for the large-scale loss of life.

They also plan to examine whether the government's disaster safety management system, including local governments, the Fire Agency, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Presidential Office, functioned properly before and after the disaster occurred.

In addition, they intend to investigate ▲ allegations of concealment, minimization, and distortion of facts by the government and local governments ▲ the appropriateness of government support measures and follow-up plans for victims, their families, on-site public officials, journalists, citizens, and affected areas ▲ and other suspicions or necessary matters raised during the investigation process.