Police Conduct Search and Seizure at Seoul City Hall Over Suspected Leak of Itaewon Disaster Victims' List

A tumultuous year is coming to an end. This year, Im In Year, was particularly difficult due to high inflation, economic hardships, and the Itaewon tragedy. The Itaewon tragedy, which resulted in 158 deaths and 196 injuries, was recorded as the deadliest accident since the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014, which claimed 304 lives. Thorough fact-finding is the best effort our society can make, especially for the victims who tragically lost their lives. Civil society is urging the special committee for the state investigation to investigate the facts impartially and transparently, and to prepare follow-up measures such as strict punishment for those responsible. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The police have launched an investigation into allegations that the list of victims of the Itaewon tragedy managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government was leaked without authorization.

On the 3rd, the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency conducted a search and seizure at around 9 a.m. at the office of the System Innovation Team under the Information Systems Officer at Seoul City Hall. Investigators who carried out the search reportedly secured electronic data such as internal information transmission records.

In November last year, online media outlets 'Mindeulle' and 'Citizen Media The Tamza' disclosed the real names of 155 out of 158 victims of the tragedy obtained from the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The police are investigating after detecting circumstances in which these media outlets received the list from the Seoul Metropolitan Government without authorization and published it online. The civic group Judicial Examination Preparation Group (Sajunmo) filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office accusing the public official who leaked the victim list of violating official secrets. Subsequently, the prosecution handed the case over to the police.

On the 29th of last month, the Seoul Metropolitan Government stated at the Itaewon Tragedy Special Committee for National Investigation that it had shared victim status data containing contact information of bereaved families with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety three times.