Seoul Police Chief Kim Kwang-ho Summoned as Suspect... Special Investigation Unit Probes Higher-Ups (Comprehensive Report 3)

Highest-Level Investigation into Negligent Homicide Since Special Unit Launch
Police Special Inspection Team's Critical Oversight Data
Confirmed Requests for Riot Police Deployment
Hamilton Hotel CEO Also Summoned
Four Including Iimjae Requested Warrants Previous Day
Additional Arrest Warrants Under Review Next Week

Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, is entering the building on the morning of the 2nd to appear for suspect questioning at the Itaewon Disaster Special Investigation Headquarters of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Seongpil Jo and Gyumin Oh] The Special Investigation Headquarters (SIH) of the National Police Agency, investigating the Itaewon tragedy, summoned Kim Gwang-ho, Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, as a suspect for questioning on the 2nd. With the sudden summons of Chief Kim, a top police official, evaluations are emerging that the investigation targeting the 'upper echelons' has officially begun.

On the morning of the same day, the SIH summoned Chief Kim, who is accused of professional negligence resulting in death and injury, to the SIH interrogation room at the Mapo Police Station of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to verify the measures taken before and after the tragedy as the person responsible for security and policing during the Halloween period. Upon arriving at the SIH, Chief Kim told reporters, "As I stated at the National Assembly on the 7th of last month, I will sincerely cooperate with the investigation without concealment or addition." He did not respond to reporters' questions about whether he admits the charges and entered the interrogation room.

Earlier, the SIH reportedly changed Chief Kim's status from a witness to a suspect based on materials secured through searches and testimonies from related parties. The disciplinary materials on Chief Kim handed over by the National Police Agency's special inspection team on the 28th of last month are also said to have served as grounds for changing his legal status to that of a suspect.

As the person ultimately responsible for Seoul's security, Chief Kim is accused of recognizing the situation late on the day of the tragedy and exacerbating casualties due to delayed response. It is known that Chief Kim first became aware of the situation at 11:36 p.m., 1 hour and 21 minutes after the accident, upon receiving a report from former Chief Lee. He then took a taxi to the accident site, but by that time, a large-scale casualty had already occurred. The SIH plans to verify the circumstances and details with Chief Kim.

Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, is entering the building on the morning of the 2nd to appear for suspect questioning at the Itaewon Disaster Special Investigation Headquarters of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The SIH also plans to question whether Chief Kim received requests for riot police deployment from former Yongsan Police Station Chief Lee Im-jae and others before the Halloween festival. Former Chief Lee has claimed that he requested support from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's relevant department for riot police during Halloween, but Chief Kim has denied this. The SIH has also stated that it has not confirmed any such requests from Yongsan Police Station during its investigations so far.

Separately from the Yongsan Police Station's request for riot police, the SIH confirmed that during internal discussions on Halloween response measures, Chief Kim and Yoon Si-seung, Head of the Security Department of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, had a phone conversation stating that deploying riot police in the Itaewon area was difficult due to crowd and protest security issues. Many have pointed out that if riot police had been pre-deployed at the scene during the tragedy, casualties could have been reduced. The SIH plans to verify the details of this with Chief Kim.

Furthermore, the SIH is expected to investigate whether Chief Kim was involved in the alleged deletion of a risk analysis report during the Halloween period. Although no evidence of his involvement has been confirmed so far, the SIH's position is to keep all possibilities open during the investigation. Regarding this allegation, the SIH applied for arrest warrants yesterday for former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Public Safety Information and Foreign Affairs Division Chief Park Seong-min (Police Commissioner) and former Yongsan Police Station Intelligence Division Chief Kim (Police Superintendent) on charges of instructing evidence destruction.

Previously, the SIH applied for pre-arrest warrants for four police executives, including Commissioner Park and former Chief Lee. With the sudden summons of Chief Kim, the highest-ranking police official since the SIH's establishment, the investigation is said to have officially begun targeting the 'upper echelons.' An SIH official said, "With the first round of detention procedures completed and investigations on additional suspects underway, we expect the investigations into the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Seoul Metropolitan Government to intensify."

CEO Lee Mo of Hamilton Hotel is entering the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency building in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 2nd to be investigated by the Itaewon Disaster Special Investigation Headquarters, and is giving an interview to the press.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, the SIH also summoned Lee, CEO of Hamilton Hotel, as a suspect for questioning. Lee was booked earlier this month on charges of violating the Building Act and Road Act by erecting illegal structures around the Hamilton Hotel main building and occupying the road without permission. The SIH plans to focus on questioning Lee about whether he maintained the illegal structures for a long period and colluded with administrative officials from Yongsan District Office and other agencies.

The SIH is also considering applying for additional arrest warrants next week for major suspects booked in the early stages of the investigation. Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan District, who was booked on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury, is expected to be among them. According to the SIH investigation, Mayor Park reportedly used an official vehicle to visit his hometown, Uiryeong County in Gyeongnam Province, for personal reasons on the day of the tragedy. An SIH official also stated, "We have conducted investigations regarding the mayor's movements and actions on that day."

The SIH is reportedly reviewing whether to change the status of Yoon Si-seung, Head of the Security Department of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and the Director of Yongsan Public Health Center, currently witnesses, to suspects. An SIH official said, "We expect to announce all additional suspects collectively next week." Additionally, the SIH added that it is keeping open the possibility of starting an investigation into Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun.