"The National Process Itself Is the Perpetrators' Solidarity"… Opposition 3 Parties Promise to Form Itaewon Investigation Committee

Park Hong-geun "Ruling party's Lee Sang-min desperately shields"
Bereaved families "Yoon must clarify whether he chaired the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters"
Jo Soo-jin who mentioned Cheongdam-dong drinking party in the state audit should be disciplined

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The Special Committee for the National Investigation into the Itaewon Disaster and Prevention of Recurrence has promised to establish an 'independent investigative body' as a follow-up measure after the conclusion of its activities. On this day, committee members emphasized that "even after the national investigation ends, the truth-finding of the disaster will continue," highlighting the ongoing interest of the National Assembly and public opinion.

On the 18th, members of the special committee from the three opposition parties, excluding the People Power Party, held the 'Itaewon Disaster National Investigation Public Report' at the National Assembly, reporting the results of the 55-day national investigation activities and explaining follow-up measures.

On this day, the three opposition parties strongly criticized the ruling party members' refusal to adopt the national investigation report the previous day. Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "The ruling party's refusal to adopt the report shows a lack of sincerity in uncovering the truth from the beginning," and criticized, "Even while witnessing the desperate cries of the bereaved families, the People Power Party persistently tried to shield Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min."

He continued, "We will do our utmost until the end to establish an independent investigative body and take follow-up measures such as punishing those responsible," pledging, "We will prepare measures to prevent secondary harm to the bereaved families and promptly begin memorial activities."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Eun-joo, floor leader of the Justice Party, also said, "We tried to bring results that would offer some comfort to the citizens, but we failed. We apologize deeply to the bereaved families, survivors, and citizens," pointing out that "(the national investigation process) was a solidarity of the perpetrators themselves."

She then promised to implement three core tasks: ▲promoting the establishment of an independent investigative body guaranteeing participation of bereaved families and survivors ▲creating a special committee on disaster safety under the National Assembly ▲demanding the dismissal of Minister Lee and an apology from President Yoon Seok-yeol. In particular, she emphasized handling the establishment of the investigative body and the disaster safety special committee within the January extraordinary session of the National Assembly.

Yong Hye-in, co-representative of the Basic Income Party, said, "The country has experienced the Sampoong Department Store disaster, the Daegu subway disaster, the Sewol ferry disaster, and now the Itaewon disaster, yet it remains the same," adding, "If there is no fundamental change, disasters will continue. We must comprehensively review South Korea's disaster management system and create fundamental changes to move toward a safe society." Co-representative Yong also argued that various methods, including the establishment of an independent disaster investigative body, special prosecutors, and guaranteed prosecution rights, should be discussed.

Woo Sang-ho, chair of the special committee, acknowledged that the national investigation was insufficient and emphasized the need to form an investigative body and the introduction of special prosecutors if responsibility is not clarified in the future.

Chair Woo said, "As the bereaved families said, we need to create a proper investigative body that takes several months, not just 45 days. In foreign countries, it takes a year to produce an investigative report," adding, "Although a few people were indicted during the national investigation yesterday, if proper responsibility is not achieved through those indictments, we must introduce special prosecutors to hold people accountable until the end. I believe that is the way to make South Korea a safe country."

What will the National Assembly do after people's attention fades?

However, the possibility of forming the investigative body during the January extraordinary session of the National Assembly was assessed as low. Floor leader Park said, "The sooner, the better, but it is appropriate to do it through bipartisan agreement, and the wishes of the bereaved families should be prioritized," adding, "After the Lunar New Year holiday, I don't know if we can enact the law within the remaining January schedule, but we will do our best." Floor leader Lee emphasized handling it within January, saying, "We need to discuss whether it will be in the form of a special law or possible through a National Assembly resolution. If it includes victim support content, it should be in the form of a special law."

Lee Jong-cheol, representative of the bereaved families' association who attended the public report, said, "What was not revealed in the national investigation is whether Police Chief Yoon Hee-geun really went to the mountain on the day of the disaster or went somewhere else," adding, "President Yoon came to Hamilton Street in Itaewon and said, 'He died of a concussion here,' but I earnestly hope it will be revealed whether he actually presided over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting and whether his secretaries truly reported the Itaewon disaster to President Yoon."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Professor Cha Ji-ho of the Graduate School of Future Strategy, who attended as an expert representative, said, "The pain for the bereaved families and survivors is just beginning," emphasizing, "The most important criterion for judging politics is the attitude toward social pain." He continued, "The National Assembly, we, as members of society, must focus on why this problem occurred, what must be done to prevent recurrence, and what we should share with those suffering," and requested, "I hope that the survivors, who were the first witnesses, will be reflected in the formation of the independent body."

Voices calling for disciplinary action against Cho Soo-jin, a People Power Party lawmaker who sparked controversy by criticizing the 'Cheongdam-dong drinking party' allegation during the plenary session for adopting the report the previous day, also emerged. Jang Hye-young, a Justice Party lawmaker, said, "Cho's remarks require disciplinary action at the National Assembly level," criticizing, "It was an inappropriate conduct for a lawmaker representing the people politically."

Lawmaker Jang said, "Perhaps the challenge for the National Assembly begins now," urging the committee members, the public, and the media to pay attention, saying, "We are facing the theme of what we will do after people's attention fades."