[In Photos: Politics] 2 Weeks Left for National Investigation Special Committee, "Please Reveal the Truth"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Dong-joo] The 'Special Committee for the National Investigation into the Yongsan Itaewon Disaster and Prevention of Recurrence' (National Investigation Special Committee) launched abruptly on the 19th, with members from the People Power Party's committee absent.

Woo Sang-ho, the chairman of the special committee for the national investigation into the Itaewon disaster, is presiding over the full meeting of the special committee at the National Assembly on the 19th. On this day, all members of the People Power Party's special committee were absent. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Woo Sang-ho, the chairman of the Special Committee for the National Investigation into the Itaewon Disaster, is presiding over the full meeting of the special committee at the National Assembly on the 19th. On this day, all members of the People Power Party's special committee were absent. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Originally, full-scale activities were planned after the budget bill was passed, but the budget bill missed the legal deadline, the regular National Assembly session, and the Speaker's mediation proposal, leaving less than three weeks before the committee's activity period ends. Woo Sang-ho, chairman of the National Investigation Special Committee, said, "There has never been a national investigation that covered everything within three weeks. Although there will be physical difficulties, we decided to start anyway," adding, "We will proceed even if it is in an abrupt manner."

Woo Sang-ho, Chairman of the National Assembly Special Committee on the Itaewon Disaster Investigation, and members of the special committee are paying their respects at the citizen memorial altar for the victims at Noksapyeong Station in Seoul on the 21st. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

On the 19th, the committee approved the schedule for on-site investigations, agency reports, and the adoption of agency witnesses.

Then, on the 21st, starting with paying respects at the citizens' memorial altar at Noksapyeong Station in Yongsan-gu, the committee conducted on-site investigations at the disaster site and Itaewon Police Substation, and visited the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and Seoul City Hall to receive on-site briefings.

Woo Sang-ho, Chairman of the National Assembly Special Committee on the Itaewon Disaster Investigation, and members of the committee are listening to a briefing by Choi Seong-beom, Chief of Yongsan Fire Station, during an on-site investigation at the Itaewon disaster site in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 21st. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Woo Sang-ho, Chairman of the National Assembly Special Committee on the Itaewon Disaster Investigation, is inspecting the Itaewon disaster site in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 21st. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Woo Sang-ho, Chairman of the National Assembly Special Committee on the Itaewon Disaster Investigation, and members of the committee are listening to a briefing by Im Hyun-gyu, Chief of Yongsan Police Station, during an on-site investigation at the Itaewon disaster site in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 21st. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Woo Sang-ho, Chairman of the National Assembly Special Committee on the Itaewon Disaster Investigation, is inspecting the Itaewon disaster site in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 21st. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Earlier, after People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young met with the bereaved families, the 'half-hearted' national investigation was avoided, and the first on-site investigation by the committee was conducted jointly by both ruling and opposition parties.

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min is bowing his head to Chairman Woo Sang-ho after completing the on-site investigation of the National Assembly Special Committee at the Seoul Situation Center of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters in the Government Seoul Office Building on the 23rd. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

The National Assembly Special Committee on the Itaewon Disaster held an on-site investigation on the 23rd at the Seoul Situation Center of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters in the Government Seoul Office Building. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Families of the victims of the Itaewon tragedy are protesting Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min as he leaves after the on-site investigation by the National Assembly's Special Committee on the Itaewon Tragedy at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 22nd. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group