Installed on the 1st of last month to uncover the truth of the disaster
Operated with 121 members... 17 suspects booked
Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min keeps investigation possibility open
The Police Agency's Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit) investigating the Itaewon disaster marked its one-month anniversary on the 1st. The Special Investigation Unit was formed immediately after Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun declared on the 1st of last month that an independent special organization would be established to uncover the truth of the disaster. Initially led by Son Je-han, Chief of Changwon Jungbu Police Station in Gyeongnam Province (Senior Superintendent), the Special Investigation Unit was composed of a total of 501 personnel and is currently operating with 121 direct investigation staff as of this date. Over the past month, the Special Investigation Unit has conducted large-scale raids and interrogations of related parties, registering 17 individuals as suspects and carrying out investigations. They are concluding investigations on key suspects and reviewing directions for their detention and prosecution.
Former Yongsan Police Station Chief Lee Im-jae is moving to the waiting room after attending a hearing on the Itaewon disaster held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
◆ Lee Im-jae, former Chief of Yongsan Police Station = The Special Investigation Unit is reportedly likely to apply for a pre-trial detention warrant against former Chief Lee. Early in the investigation, on the 6th of last month, he was booked on charges of professional negligence resulting in death or injury and dereliction of duty for failing to take preemptive measures despite anticipating large crowds during the Halloween period and arriving late at the scene, resulting in delayed response. Subsequently, on the 16th of the same month, he testified at the National Assembly regarding requests for riot police and the timing of recognizing the disaster, but the Special Investigation Unit places significant weight on the possibility that his testimony was false. If the National Assembly files a complaint, the Special Investigation Unit plans to add perjury charges under the National Assembly Testimony and Inspection Act against former Chief Lee.
◆ Ryu Mi-jin, former Director of Personnel and Education at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency = Superintendent Ryu is accused of dereliction of duty for failing to promptly recognize the emergency situation occurring in Itaewon on the day of the disaster while working at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's 112 Comprehensive Security Situation Room and for reporting late to the command. According to the Police Agency's special inspection team, Superintendent Ryu was working in her office rather than the situation room on the day of the disaster. She claimed that it is customary for the situation manager not to work in the situation room. Both the Special Investigation Unit and internal police authorities consider this claim to be true; however, given the large-scale casualties, there is a consensus that responsibility must be clearly assigned. The Special Investigation Unit is also investigating the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Situation Team 3, who delayed reporting the situation to Superintendent Ryu.
◆ Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan District = Mayor Park has been summoned for questioning three times, the most among the key suspects. He is accused of professional negligence resulting in death or injury for neglecting to prepare safety accident prevention measures during the Halloween period and for inappropriate response to the disaster. The Special Investigation Unit imposed a travel ban on Mayor Park on the 11th of last month. It is reported that he denied some of the charges during the investigation process. In particular, he caused controversy by providing false explanations regarding his whereabouts on the day of the disaster. Due to this, some speculate that there is a need to secure his custody due to concerns he might destroy evidence.
Yongsan Fire Station Chief Choi Seong-beom is being summoned to the Itaewon Accident Special Investigation Headquarters in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 21st. Photo by Kang Jin-hyeong aymsdream@
◆ Choi Seong-beom, Chief of Yongsan Fire Station = Chief Choi was questioned twice by the Special Investigation Unit on the 21st and 26th of last month. He is known to have denied the charges during the investigation. According to the Special Investigation Unit, he is accused of professional negligence resulting in death or injury for failing to respond appropriately by not dispatching despite the police's joint response request just before the disaster and for inadequate response immediately after the accident, which increased casualties. The Special Investigation Unit has also booked Yongsan Fire Station's Field Command Team Leader Lee Mo on the same charges and is investigating. Furthermore, they are expanding the investigation to the overall disaster response of the fire department by analyzing materials related to the Central Emergency Rescue Control Center (Central Control Center) obtained through a raid on the Fire Agency.
◆ Park Seong-min, former Director of Public Safety Information and Foreign Affairs at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency = Superintendent Park is the highest-ranking police officer booked since the Special Investigation Unit's launch and is accused of instructing evidence destruction. The Special Investigation Unit believes he ordered the deletion of a risk analysis report prepared by the police during the Halloween period. The report titled "Itaewon Halloween Festival Public Safety Risk Analysis" reportedly included phrases such as "pedestrians entering the road due to large crowds, reports of traffic inconvenience, and concerns about traffic accidents." The Special Investigation Unit believes that former Yongsan Police Station Intelligence Chief Kim Mo, Superintendent, persuaded staff to delete the report under Superintendent Park's instructions. The Special Investigation Unit is also reportedly considering applying for an arrest warrant for Superintendent Park.
◆ Song Eun-young, Station Master of Itaewon Station = Station Master Song is accused of professional negligence resulting in death or injury for causing the disaster by not implementing a no-stop pass despite the crowd congestion. About 40 minutes before the disaster, the police requested a no-stop pass, but it is suspected that this was ignored and the subway was insisted to operate normally. From the early stages of the investigation, the police and Seoul Metro have been engaged in a dispute over whether a no-stop pass request was made at Itaewon Station. The Metro claims it never received such a request from the police, while the police assert that the Metro insisted on normal operation. The Special Investigation Unit confirmed a phone call between former Yongsan Police Station 112 Situation Room Chief and Station Master Song at 9:32 p.m. on the day of the disaster. The Special Investigation Unit summoned and questioned Station Master Song the day before.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min is attending the emergency inquiry on the Itaewon disaster held at the National Assembly on the 7th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
◆ Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety = Minister Lee was automatically booked following a complaint filed by the Korea Public Officials Labor Union Federation (Gongnochoeng) National Public Officials Labor Union Fire Agency Branch. The charges listed in the complaint are dereliction of duty and professional negligence resulting in death or injury. Since Minister Lee is a high-ranking public official, the Special Investigation Unit has notified the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) about the complaint case. The CIO must respond within 60 days from the date of notification whether it will initiate an investigation. The Special Investigation Unit has repeatedly stated that it will proceed with related investigations regardless of the CIO's response. However, the consensus is that the investigation has not yet directly targeted Minister Lee's command responsibility. His office was excluded from the raid conducted on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 14th of last month. The Special Investigation Unit is keeping open the possibility of initiating a forced investigation against Minister Lee in the future.
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