'Itaewon Tragedy' Bereaved Families Meet with Ruling Party, Demand Minister Lee Sang-min's Resignation

Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is seen greeting and bidding farewell after meeting with the bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 21st. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] The bereaved families of the victims of the 'Itaewon tragedy' met with the leadership of the People Power Party, including Emergency Response Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok, at the National Assembly to demand a sincere apology and personnel measures for those responsible for the disaster.

About 20 bereaved families of the Itaewon tragedy victims held a private meeting for approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes with Emergency Response Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok and People Power Party members Park Hyung-soo and Park Sung-min, who are part of the party’s ‘Itaewon Accident Investigation and Safety Measures Special Committee.’ This was the first official bereaved family meeting held at the party level. The meeting was arranged at the request of the bereaved families.

Attending the meeting were Chairman Jeong, People Power Party members Park Hyung-soo and Park Sung-min of the 'Itaewon Accident Investigation and Safety Measures Special Committee,' committee member Shin Eui-jin (Professor of Psychiatry at Yonsei University College of Medicine), Policy Committee Chairman Sung Il-jong, and Chief Spokesperson Park Jeong-ha.

During the meeting, it was reported that loud voices and criticism from the bereaved families could be heard outside the meeting room. After the meeting, the bereaved families held a separate meeting for about 50 minutes to discuss future response measures.

A bereaved family member, Mr. Lee, said after the meeting, "There has been no sincere apology yet, and no one has taken responsibility," adding, "Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min is the top official responsible, so he should step down first," raising his voice.

Chairman Jeong, after the meeting, said, "I expressed deep regret and apologized on behalf of the government and the ruling party," and added, "I pledged to do our best in investigating the cause of the accident, managing the situation, and preparing measures to prevent recurrence."

The People Power Party held a party meeting that morning and reaffirmed its refusal to accept the national audit proposed by the opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, at this point in time.