Song Doo-hwan, Human Rights Commissioner, Urges Promulgation of Itaewon Special Act... Must Follow UN Recommendations

Song Doo-hwan, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, urged the prompt promulgation of the ‘10·29 Itaewon Disaster Special Act’ that passed the National Assembly plenary session.

On the 29th, Chairman Song issued a statement saying, "With the promulgation of the Special Act, I hope that the procedures necessary for the independent investigative body to ascertain the facts of the disaster, guarantee specific rights of the victims, and prepare measures to prevent recurrence can proceed as soon as possible."

Chairman Song emphasized, "The Human Rights Commission has repeatedly expressed the opinion that the enactment of the Special Act is necessary so that an independent investigative body, trusted and accepted by the victims, can ascertain the facts and prepare measures to prevent recurrence through two statements immediately after the disaster."

He added regarding the UN Human Rights Committee’s recommendation to the Korean government to establish an independent agency to investigate the Itaewon disaster and punish those responsible, "This means that the international human rights community is paying attention to the measures our government will take and the efforts to implement them concerning the fact-finding of the disaster."

The UN Human Rights Committee reviewed South Korea’s state report on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights last November and demanded that the Korean government provide appropriate compensation and prepare measures to prevent recurrence. This was the first recommendation made by an international organization to the government after the disaster.

In response, Chairman Song said, "As a party to the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, our country has an obligation to implement these recommendations."

Chairman Song added, "The proper fact-finding process of social disasters itself helps the bereaved families and victims overcome the pain of the disaster and recover their daily lives," and "It will serve as a foundation to make our society safer and more trustworthy."