Yongsan-gu Disaster Chief Demands U-Turn After Traffic Jam While Heading to Disaster Site

A tumultuous year is coming to an end. This year, Im In-nyeon, was particularly challenging due to high inflation, economic difficulties, 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 investigation is the best effort our society can make for the victims who tragically lost their lives. Civil society is urging the special committee for the state audit to investigate the facts impartially and transparently, and to prepare follow-up measures such as strict punishment for those responsible. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Choi Won-jun (59), former head of the Safety and Disaster Management Division at Yongsan District Office, who was indicted for failing to manage the scene despite being aware of the Itaewon disaster, was testified to have asked the taxi driver to turn the car around when the road was blocked while he was on his way to the district office that night.

Taxi driver Shin testified as a witness at the trial of former division head Choi held on the 28th at the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Bae Seong-jung), saying, "When we were delayed for about 10 minutes in front of the Defense Convention Center, he asked me to go back to the original boarding point."

Shin stated that he picked up former division head Choi in front of a church in Cheongpa-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

The Defense Convention Center mentioned by Shin is located on Itaewon-ro between Samgakji Station and Noksapyeong Station. This road, about 1.3 km from the accident site and approximately 1.0 km from Yongsan District Office, experienced congestion as general vehicle access toward Itaewon Station was restricted at the time to manage the accident.

According to the prosecution, around 11:25 p.m. on the day of the incident, Choi received a call from Kim, a clerk in the Safety and Disaster Management Division, saying, "It seems there has been an accident in Itaewon. We need to go out quickly," and said, "I will go to Yongsan District Office," before taking a taxi.

While on the way to Yongsan District Office, around 11:56 p.m., he told the taxi driver to "go back to the initial boarding point," then returned home and took no action until about 7:30 a.m. the next day, for which he is charged with dereliction of duty.

Taxi driver Shin testified that although former division head Choi had been drinking, he opened the car door himself and paid the fare, so he did not appear to be intoxicated.

Former division head Choi and Yongsan District Mayor Park Hee-young were also indicted on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury for failing to establish a safety management plan and for not properly operating the permanent disaster safety situation room, despite being able to foresee the occurrence of casualties due to the large crowd.