Targeting 22 Locations Including the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters
The signboard of the Itaewon Accident Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit), which is 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, began a forced investigation on the 17th targeting the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Seoul City Hall.
From 2:30 p.m. on the same day, the Special Investigation HQ dispatched 65 investigators to conduct raids and seizures at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Seoul City Hall, and the Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee. Regarding the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, they are securing related materials from 12 locations including the Disaster Safety Management Headquarters Seoul Situation Center, Central Disaster Safety Situation Room, Safety Management Policy Officer, and Disaster Response Policy Officer. Seoul City Hall’s targets include a total of 8 locations such as the Safety General Division, Safety Support Division, Disaster Safety Situation Room, and Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. The Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee’s targets are 2 locations: the Secretariat and the Computer Room. Through this raid, the Special Investigation HQ plans to secure related reports, Itaewon accident response materials, and manuals from the Halloween period.
This is the first time the Special Investigation HQ has conducted a forced investigation against the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Seoul City. Previously, on the 2nd and 8th, the Special Investigation HQ conducted raids and seizures targeting the Police Agency, Yongsan District Office, and Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters. At that time, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Seoul City, which are higher administrative bodies, were excluded from the seizure targets, leading to criticism that the investigation was a “scapegoating” effort. The Special Investigation HQ has repeatedly emphasized that it plans to confirm specific legal responsibilities applicable to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety or Seoul City after verifying the facts.
Since early this month, the Special Investigation HQ has summoned public officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Seoul City as witnesses for questioning. Following the questioning of Ministry of the Interior and Safety staff related to safety measures on the 14th, the head of the Ministry’s Central Disaster Safety Situation Room was questioned as a witness on the 15th. On the same day, the head of the Safety General Division at Seoul City was also questioned. It is known that during these investigations, the Special Investigation HQ confirmed indications that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Seoul City were insufficient in their safety accident responses before and after the day of the disaster. With witness questioning followed by today’s raids, it is expected that investigations targeting higher-ups will intensify. The Special Investigation HQ plans to analyze the materials secured today and summon related individuals for questioning in sequence within a few days.
Meanwhile, the Special Investigation HQ recently registered Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, the person responsible for disaster and safety management related to the Itaewon disaster, as a suspect for professional negligence resulting in death or injury and dereliction of duty. This is a formal action following a complaint filed on the 14th by the Korea Government Employees’ Union Federation (Gongnochoeng) National Government Employees’ Union Fire Department Branch requesting an investigation into the minister on these charges. However, since the minister’s dereliction of duty charge falls under the jurisdiction of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), it remains uncertain whether the Special Investigation HQ will proceed with a full investigation.
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