[Reporter’s Notebook] Government and Ruling Party Obstructing Truth Investigation in Itaewon

Family Testimonies at the End of the Itaewon National Investigation
Government and Ruling Party Protect Lee Sang-min and Distance Themselves from Families
The Start of Change Is Facing Responsibility, Not Avoiding It

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Kim Chorong, a survivor of the Itaewon tragedy, spoke with a trembling voice, struggling to begin. Attending the 3rd public hearing of the National Assembly's Special Committee on the Itaewon Tragedy on the 12th, Kim said, "For those who have experienced a disaster like this tragedy, nothing heals more than uncovering the truth," shedding tears.

As the Itaewon special investigation is set to conclude on the 17th, the questioning of responsible officials from related ministries has also ended. However, the bereaved families are still in Itaewon on the day the tragedy occurred. At the hearing, the families cried out, "The government has never officially met with the bereaved families or apologized even once." They expressed great disappointment and frustration after witnessing the government's false and inadequate data, evasive answers, and some committee members' political disputes during the investigation process.

The most basic step in uncovering the truth of the tragedy?the testimony of the parties involved?only took place at the very end of the investigation. This was due to unresolved disagreements between the ruling and opposition parties over witness selection. The ruling party strongly opposed a face-to-face meeting between Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min and the bereaved families, delaying their testimony to the very last order. The ruling party also raised concerns about the large number of family witnesses.

The apparent reason the truth of the tragedy was not properly uncovered during the investigation was political strife between the ruling and opposition parties. However, upon closer examination, the government's evasion of responsibility obstructed the truth-finding. Whenever negotiations between parties stalled, ruling party members of the special committee repeatedly said, "We cannot move or express any position until there is a decision from the leadership." The government and ruling party did their utmost to protect Minister Lee but kept the bereaved families at a distance. It seems the government and ruling party feared that the families' frustration and anger would lead to negative public opinion against the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

Although the tragedy occurred unexpectedly, what follows must clearly be different. The beginning of change is not evading responsibility but facing the stories of those involved and working together to find improvements.