'Yongsan Police Chief and 3 Others Appear for Warrant Hearing in Itaewon Tragedy... At a Crossroads of Detention'

Park Sung-min, Former Seoul Police Information Chief, and 3 Others
Charged with Evidence Tampering and Negligent Homicide
"Will Cooperate Fully with Investigation"
Lee Im-jae, Former Yongsan Police Chief, Enters Court One Hour Before Hearing

Police officers suspected of deleting reports related to the Itaewon disaster and inadequate response appeared for the suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) of Gu Seok-jeon.
Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] Police officers suspected of deleting reports related to the Itaewon disaster and inadequate response appeared for pre-trial detention hearings (warrant hearings).

The warrant hearings for four individuals, including Park Seongmin, former Public Safety Information and Foreign Affairs Division Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (Senior Superintendent), and Lee Imjae, former Chief of Yongsan Police Station (Senior Superintendent), were held at the Seoul Western District Court.

Senior Superintendent Lee and former Yongsan Police Station 112 Situation Room Chief Police Superintendent Song appeared at the court around 12:58 PM. Later, former Yongsan Police Station Intelligence Division Chief Police Superintendent Kim entered the court at 1:27 PM, saying, "I will explain inside." Senior Superintendent Park arrived at 1:48 PM and told reporters, when asked if he admitted the charges and whether he acted independently without orders from superiors, "I will answer sincerely."

Judge Kim Yumi, in charge of warrants at this court, began reviewing the necessity of detention for these individuals from 2 PM. The decision on whether to issue the warrants is expected later in the afternoon.

The Special Investigation Headquarters (SIH) of the National Police Agency, investigating the Itaewon disaster, applied for the warrants on the 1st, stating that although substantial evidence of criminal charges has been established, all suspects deny the charges, making detention necessary for investigation.

According to the SIH, Senior Superintendent Park and former Yongsan Police Station Intelligence Division Chief Police Superintendent Kim face charges of instructing evidence destruction, while Senior Superintendent Lee and Police Superintendent Song face charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury.

Senior Superintendent Park is suspected of ordering the deletion of a risk analysis information report created during the Halloween period in a chatroom where intelligence chiefs from frontline police stations in Seoul gathered immediately after the disaster. The SIH believes that Police Superintendent Kim persuaded staff to delete the report following Park’s instructions.

Senior Superintendent Lee is accused of failing to take preemptive measures despite the expected crowd during Halloween and arriving late at the scene, thus inadequately responding. Police Superintendent Song is charged with failing to properly command police officers at the scene during the initial phase of the disaster, which increased casualties.

Meanwhile, the SIH is reviewing the direction of legal actions against Lee Joo and Park Heeyoung, Mayor of Yongsan District, and Choi Seongbeom, Chief of Yongsan Fire Station. SIH spokesperson Kim Dongwook stated, "The investigation is nearing completion," and "We are reviewing whether to apply for detention warrants." The SIH also considers that local governments and fire authorities bear primary responsibility for disaster preparedness and relief under the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety.