Itaewon Special Act Reconsideration Bill to Be Submitted at Tomorrow's Cabinet Meeting... Veto Expected

Tomorrow's Cabinet Meeting Chaired by Prime Minister... Yoon to Visit National Assembly Afterward
Government to Announce Support Measures Focused on 'Victim Compensation'

The Prime Minister's Office announced on the 29th that the government will submit and deliberate a request for reconsideration regarding the 'Special Act on Guaranteeing the Rights of Victims of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster, Fact-Finding, and Prevention of Recurrence' at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for the 30th.

The Itaewon Disaster Special Act was passed solely by the opposition party in the National Assembly and was sent to the government on the 19th.

The bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster are holding tearful placards urging the enactment of the Itaewon Disaster Special Act near the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 29th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

It is known that at the Cabinet meeting on the 30th, presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the government is highly likely to recommend President Yoon Seok-yeol to exercise his veto power against the special act. If the Cabinet resolves the request for reconsideration and President Yoon approves it, the Itaewon Special Act is expected to return to the National Assembly and proceed toward being discarded.

President Yoon is reported to agree with the ruling party's criticism that the Itaewon Special Act was processed without bipartisan agreement and that there are issues with the composition and authority of the special investigation committee to be formed for fact-finding. Accordingly, if the request for reconsideration is resolved, it is likely to be immediately approved. If President Yoon exercises his veto this time, it will be the fifth since his inauguration.

The government is reportedly preparing separate support measures such as prompt compensation for the victims and bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster and the establishment of a memorial space. Therefore, these may be announced together on the 30th.

A presidential office official met with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day and stated regarding the Itaewon Special Act, "The government's position is to compensate and support the victims and bereaved families to the maximum extent permitted by law," and added, "We will also proactively consider various follow-up measures desired by the bereaved families."