Arrest Warrant for Suspect in 'Itaewon Disaster'... First Report Card from Special Investigation Unit to Be Released

Policy for Determining the Direction of New Migrant Processing

The signboard of the Itaewon Accident Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit), which is investigating the inadequate response to the 'Itaewon Disaster,' is hung at the entrance of the Mapo Police Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Seongpil Jo and Gyumin Oh] The Police Agency's Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation HQ), which is investigating the Itaewon disaster, plans to apply for arrest warrants for the main suspects initially booked during the early stages of the investigation within this week. This is expected to be the first benchmark to gauge the performance of the Special Investigation HQ's month-long investigation.

Kim Dong-wook, spokesperson for the Special Investigation HQ, said at a briefing held on the 28th at the Mapo office of the Seoul Police Agency, "Once the summons investigations of the main suspects are completed, we will review the scope of arrest warrant applications." Earlier, the Special Investigation HQ summoned all six suspects booked on the 6th, and among them, former Yongsan Police Station Chief (Senior Superintendent) Lee Im-jae, former Seoul Police Agency Personnel and Education Division Chief (Senior Superintendent) Ryu Mi-jin, and Yongsan Fire Station Chief Choi Seong-beom were summoned twice for questioning. On this day, Yongsan District Mayor Park Hee-young and former Seoul Yongsan Police Station Intelligence Division Chief Kim (Police Superintendent) were summoned again, and once the investigations are completed, the second round of investigations for the first booked suspects will be concluded.

The Special Investigation HQ plans to review the necessity and scale of arrest warrant applications for these individuals after completing the investigations. Some suspects are strongly denying the charges and there are concerns about evidence tampering, making detention investigations inevitable according to analyses inside and outside the police. The Special Investigation HQ is confident about proving the charges and obtaining the warrants when applying. A Special Investigation HQ official stated, "We have been continuously consulting with the prosecution throughout the investigation process in preparation for applying for arrest warrants."

If the arrest warrants applied for by the Special Investigation HQ are accepted by the prosecution and the court, the investigation is expected to accelerate. Especially since the Special Investigation HQ has announced plans to summon Seoul Police Agency Chief Kim Gwang-ho as soon as possible, the investigation into higher-ups is likely to gain momentum. Conversely, if the warrants are rejected, the investigation's momentum will significantly decline. Failing to secure custody of the main suspects will make non-custodial investigations inevitable, which will require constant coordination of additional investigation schedules and greatly slow down the pace. Investigations into Chief Kim, as well as the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, will inevitably be delayed.

Even if the warrants are issued, the Special Investigation HQ cannot be complacent. If suspects file for a detention review, a fierce legal battle is unavoidable. Most suspects initially booked are charged with dereliction of duty and professional negligence causing death or injury, where intentionality or willfulness is a key factor. If suspects build a defense arguing that although they misjudged the situation during the disaster, they did not neglect their duties without justifiable reason, the investigative authorities are expected to face difficulties in proving the charges.

The Special Investigation HQ is also continuing investigations into nine additional suspects booked on the 23rd. From the morning of that day, they summoned the former head of the Yongsan Police 112 Situation Room and former Seoul Police Agency Public Safety Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Division Chief Park Seong-min (Police Commissioner) for questioning. In addition, witness investigations are being conducted in parallel for employees of the Fire Agency, Yongsan District Office, and Yongsan Health Center, which were subject to search and seizure last week.