Itaewon Tragedy Bereaved Families "Strongly Condemn Prosecution's Investigation Delay"

The bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster and related civic groups condemned the delay in the prosecution's investigation into those responsible for the disaster and urged a swift conclusion to the investigation.

On the 17th, bereaved families of the overpass crush disaster that occurred at the Akashi City Fireworks Festival in Japan in 2001, including Seiji Shimomura, visited the Itaewon Disaster Citizens' Memorial Altar set up at Seoul Plaza to pay their respects. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

According to civic groups on the 7th, the day before, the Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association and the Itaewon Disaster Civic Countermeasures Meeting stated in a press release, "With changes in the command line, including the chief prosecutor of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, the conclusion of the prosecution's investigation into the leadership, including Kim Gwang-ho, Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, who was sent to the prosecution as the person responsible for the disaster, has been delayed," and added, "We strongly condemn the prosecution for delaying the investigation with a complacent attitude toward those responsible for the disaster."

They also pointed out, "The Police Agency's Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit), which investigated the disaster, sent Chief Kim to the prosecution on January 13 on charges including professional negligence causing death and injury. At the end of April, the Western District Prosecutors' Office investigation team considered indicting Chief Kim with detention, but reports indicate that due to opposition from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, they could not request an arrest warrant or proceed with indictment," calling this a 'scapegoating investigation.'

They continued, "In the case of the 'death of Mr. Baek Nam-gi due to water cannon,' former Seoul Metropolitan Police Chief Koo Eun-soo was indicted for neglecting his duty to supervise and command, which led to Mr. Baek's death, and on April 8, a fine of 10 million won was confirmed," adding, "According to precedent, it is difficult for Chief Kim, who is the overall person responsible for this disaster, to avoid responsibility." They also stated, "Since nearly a year of comprehensive investigation into Chief Kim has been conducted, the prosecution should no longer delay and must conclude the investigation and promptly exercise its right to indict Chief Kim."