Cho Jung-min, Prosecutor in Charge of Practical Work for 'Blue Belt' in Collapse, Disaster, and Catastrophe Fields
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Taewon] The prosecution, which has effectively restarted the investigation into the ‘Itaewon disaster’ from scratch, has confirmed that it has added a ‘serious disaster expert’ to the investigation team. This is interpreted as the prosecution’s intention to supplement the shortcomings of the police investigation.
Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office conducts additional search and seizure related to the Itaewon disaster at the entrance of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Naejadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
According to the prosecution on the 31st, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office has formed a separate investigation team related to the Itaewon disaster within the Criminal Division 3 (Chief Prosecutor Kim Changsoo) to accelerate the investigation. This investigation team is directly led by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Byun Pilgeon of the Western District Prosecutors’ Office, and reports directly to Chief Prosecutor Han Seokri. The person responsible for the practical investigation is Prosecutor Choi Jeongmin (at the deputy chief level), an expert in investigating large-scale disasters. Prosecutor Choi also led the search and seizure at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 26th.
With a large-scale disaster investigation expert taking the lead on the front lines, expectations are growing for results different from those of the police. The police only transferred the primary investigative authority for large-scale disasters to the prosecution in 2019 after the adjustment of investigative rights between the prosecution and police, which had sparked controversy over a lack of expertise. The Itaewon disaster investigation was the first major disaster case handled solely by the police without direct prosecution supervision.
On the other hand, Prosecutor Choi, dispatched from the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, is one of the few serious disaster experts within the prosecution. He is one of the top experts certified as a Blue Belt (Level 2 Certified Specialist Prosecutor) in the fields of collapse, disaster, and accident. The Certified Specialist Prosecutor system was introduced in 2013 to enhance prosecutors’ expertise in specialized fields, awarding certification based on experience, specialized knowledge, and practical experience. There are no prosecutors certified as Black Belt (Level 1 Certified Specialist Prosecutor) in the fields of collapse, disaster, and accident.
He also has experience investigating large-scale disasters. Prosecutor Choi was the lead investigator in the collapse of the gymnasium at the Mauna Ocean Resort in Gyeongju, where 10 people died and 204 were injured during the 2014 orientation for new students at Busan University of Foreign Studies. He was the author of the investigation and trial report and participated in the case from the investigation stage through the trial stage.
While investigations are ongoing into key suspects who have been sent without detention, such as Kim Gwangho, Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and Choi Seongbeom, Chief of the Yongsan Fire Station, who have not yet been indicted, it appears that the prosecution’s focus is on the police.
The prosecution conducted search and seizure operations at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency three times on the 10th, 18th, and 26th. During the searches on the 18th and 26th, Chief Kim’s office was also included in the search targets. Such extensive search and seizure during the stage of supplementing the transferred case is unusual. This suggests that the investigation targeting Chief Kim is intensifying.
Meanwhile, the Police Agency’s Special Investigation Headquarters effectively concluded the investigation by transferring a total of 23 people to the prosecution, including six individuals such as former Yongsan Police Station Chief Lee Imjae and Yongsan District Mayor Park Heeyoung, who were sent in custody on the 13th, and 17 others including Chief Kim and Chief Choi, who were sent without detention.
The prosecution has indicted a total of 17 defendants (including two corporations). Starting with the indictment of three people on December 30 last year, including former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Public Safety Information Foreign Affairs Division Chief Park Seongmin and former Yongsan Police Station Intelligence Division Chief Kim Jinho, the prosecution has successively brought to trial former Yongsan Police Station Chief Lee, former Yongsan Police Station 112 Situation Room Chief Song Byeongju, Mayor Park, and the CEO of the Hamilton Hotel. One hotel tenant was additionally booked and indicted during the prosecution’s investigation.
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