[In the Photo: Politics] Itaewon Tragedy State Investigation Starts with 'Squeaks'

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Dong-joo] On the 24th, the National Assembly passed the 'Itaewon Disaster National Investigation Plan' in the plenary session with 220 votes in favor, 13 against, and 21 abstentions out of 254 members present.

On the afternoon of the 24th, the National Assembly plenary session approved the plan for a state audit to investigate the truth of the Yongsan Itaewon disaster and prevent its recurrence.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is staying in his seat during the resolution of bills related to his ministry at the National Assembly plenary session held on the afternoon of the 24th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Woo Sang-ho, who serves as the chairman of the special committee on the Itaewon disaster, is giving a proposal explanation ahead of the vote on the approval of the national investigation plan for uncovering the truth of the Yongsan Itaewon disaster and preventing its recurrence at the National Assembly plenary session held on the afternoon of the 24th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

All Democratic Party members voted in favor, while among the People Power Party, Kim Ki-hyun, Kim Hee-guk, Park Dae-soo, Park Sung-joong, Seo Byung-soo, Lee Joo-hwan, Jang Je-won, Cho Kyung-tae, Yoon Han-hong, Lee Yong, Han Ki-ho, and Hwang Bo-seung-hee voted in favor. Opposition votes against were cast by Cho Jung-hoon of the Transition Korea Party.

The chairman of the special committee for the national investigation is Democratic Party member Woo Sang-ho. The committee members consist of 9 from the Democratic Party: Woo Sang-ho, Kim Gyo-heung, Kwon Chil-seung, Shin Hyun-young, Yoon Gun-young, Lee Hae-sik, Jo Eung-cheon, Jin Sun-mi, and Cheon Jun-ho; 7 from the People Power Party: Lee Man-hee, Kim Hyung-dong, Park Sung-min, Park Hyung-soo, Jeon Ju-hye, Jo Su-jin, and Cho Eun-hee; and 2 from other parties: Jang Hye-young from the Justice Party and Yong Hye-in from the Basic Income Party, totaling 18 members.

People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young and Democratic Party floor leader Park Hong-geun held a press conference at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 23rd, announcing a bipartisan agreement on conducting a state investigation into the 'Itaewon disaster' and shaking hands afterward.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lawmakers Woo Sang-ho and Kim Gyo-heung, who were appointed as chairpersons of the Special Committee for the National Investigation into the Itaewon Disaster, are leaving the meeting room after the first meeting of the committee, scheduled to be held on the 24th in Conference Room 245 of the main government building, was canceled.

Kim Gyo-heung, appointed as the Democratic Party's secretary, reported, "Regarding the target institutions, the two parties agreed on the part concerning the Supreme Prosecutors' Office yesterday and even announced a joint statement, but now the People Power Party is asking to exclude the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Since this agreement has not been reached, today's investigation committee meeting had to be postponed temporarily." [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 24th, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Woo Sang-ho, the chairman of the Special Committee for the National Assembly's investigation into the Itaewon tragedy and measures to prevent recurrence, is approving the agenda regarding the meeting schedule at the first meeting.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Although the special committee for the national investigation started with tearful appeals from the bereaved families, prospects suggest the path ahead will not be smooth. First, the People Power Party reversed its position just one day after the agreement and requested to exclude the Supreme Prosecutors' Office from the investigation, which was partially accepted. The Presidential Office has openly expressed dissatisfaction over the inclusion of the National Situation Room and the Crisis Management Center of the National Security Office.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is taking off his mask to speak at the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 25th. Within the party, criticism is growing that the floor leader's agreement proposal has effectively failed in negotiations. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is answering questions from reporters about the Itaewon disaster special parliamentary investigation committee in the hallway of the floor leader's office at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@