'Itaewon Tragedy' Park Hee-young, Yongsan District Office Chief, and 3 Other Executives Indicted

Investigation Underway Including Kim Kwang-ho, Chief of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Taewon] The prosecution has indicted four Yongsan District Office executives, including District Mayor Park Heeyoung, on charges of inadequate response to the Itaewon disaster.

Yongsan District Mayor Park Hee-young, who is accused of professional negligence causing death and injury related to the Itaewon disaster, is attending a detention hearing at the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul on December 26 last year. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 20th, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office announced that it had arrested and indicted Mayor Park on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury, as well as falsification and use of false official documents. Former Manager Choi was also arrested and indicted on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury and dereliction of duty. Additionally, former Deputy Mayor Yoo Seungjae and former Director of Safety, Construction, and Transportation Bureau Moon Inhwan were indicted without detention on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury.

They are accused of failing to fulfill their obligations under the Disaster and Safety Act by not preparing for or responding to the risk of casualties, despite anticipating large crowds in the Itaewon area ahead of Halloween on October 29 last year. Mayor Park was additionally charged with falsifying and using a press release containing false information about his arrival time on the day of the disaster and disaster response measures.

With the prosecution's indictment of Mayor Park and three other Yongsan District Office executives on this day, the number of defendants brought to trial in connection with the Itaewon disaster has increased to 12. The prosecution stated that investigations are ongoing for the remaining 15 suspects, including Seoul Police Chief Kim Kwangho, who were referred without detention by the Police Agency's Special Investigation Headquarters.