[Exclusive] Special Investigation Unit Indicts Yongsan Fire Station Chief and Command Team Leader over 'Itaewon Disaster'

Indicted on Charges Similar to Fire Chief
Firefighters' Backlash Expected to Intensify

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Seongpil Jo and Byungdon Yoo] The Special Investigation Headquarters (Special HQ) of the National Police Agency, which is investigating the Itaewon disaster, has confirmed that a team leader-level official has been booked following Yongsan Fire Station Chief Seongbeom Choi.

According to a summary of Asia Economy's coverage on the 9th, the Special HQ recently booked Team Leader A, who belongs to the command team of Yongsan Fire Station, on charges of professional negligence resulting in death or injury. This is the same charge as that filed against Chief Choi.

The Special HQ is reportedly investigating the circumstances under which Chief Choi and Team Leader A did not promptly issue the fire response stages at the time of the accident. On the day of the disaster, the 29th of last month, the fire department activated 'Response Level 2' at 11:13 p.m., nearly an hour after the first report of a crush-related incident at 10:15 p.m., mobilizing personnel and equipment from about five to six nearby fire stations. Team Leader A at the scene issued Response Level 1 at 10:43 p.m., and it took 30 minutes to escalate to Level 2. The escalation to Level 3 occurred at 11:48 p.m.

With the booking of the Yongsan Fire Station Chief followed by the command team leader who was dispatched to the scene, criticism of the Special HQ's investigation is expected to intensify. After Chief Choi was booked, not only ordinary citizens but also the Seoul Firefighters' Union have criticized it as an 'excessive investigation.' The day before, the Seoul Fire Department branch of the National Public Officials Labor Union Fire Headquarters issued a statement saying, “The Yongsan Fire Station Chief was the first person to command at the scene after receiving the accident report,” and “Nevertheless, the Special HQ conducted a search and seizure and booked him as a suspect,” expressing strong opposition.

Meanwhile, at a briefing held at the Mapo Police Station of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the morning of the 9th, the Special HQ explained, “Some officials were booked to apply for a search and seizure of physical evidence,” adding, “Although it is difficult to consider them as actual suspects, the booking procedure was carried out formally because it is difficult to obtain a search warrant without it.”