Defense Attorney "Cannot Hold Criminal Responsibility"... Bereaved Families Protest
The prosecution has requested a 7-year prison sentence for Park Hee-young (63), the mayor of Yongsan District in Seoul, who was indicted for inadequate response to the Itaewon disaster.
On the 15th, the prosecution asked the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 11 (Chief Judge Bae Seong-jung) to sentence Mayor Park to 7 years in prison during the sentencing trial for four Yongsan District officials. Former Yongsan District Safety and Disaster Division Head Choi Won-jun was requested to receive 3 years in prison, and former Deputy Mayor Yoo Seung-jae and former Director of Yongsan District Safety, Construction, and Transportation Bureau Moon In-hwan were each requested to receive 2 years in prison with suspension.
The prosecution stated, "Mayor Park was the highest control tower in the region and the person with the greatest responsibility to recognize and prevent the accident, yet he did not fulfill the responsibilities assigned to him and took no substantial measures to prevent the accident." They added, "It was clearly foreseeable that crowds would gather on Halloween, the first since COVID-19, yet no concrete measures were prepared." Furthermore, "Despite this, after the accident, he tried to evade responsibility by distributing false press releases as if all necessary measures had been taken."
The prosecution also pointed out the 'delayed response' of Yongsan District officials including former Deputy Mayor Yoo. They said, "Although Yongsan District officials received multiple reports on the severity of the accident on the day it occurred, they attended personal appointments or went home to sleep, failing to fulfill their responsibilities despite having significant authority." They added, "The undeniable truth confirmed during the investigation of this tragic accident is that no one fulfilled their given responsibilities on the day of the accident."
Mayor Park’s defense claimed innocence, stating that he fulfilled his responsibilities at the time of the accident. The defense said, "While acknowledging that each staff member had some shortcomings, all 11 departments of Yongsan District participated in an emergency countermeasure meeting and conducted preventive activities, so Yongsan District did everything it could." They added, "Mayor Park was the first to hold a countermeasure meeting in preparation for Halloween and, contrary to the testimony of the duty commander, he arrived at the scene and helped with rescue efforts." They further stated, "Removing falsehoods, exaggerations, and distortions, it is questionable whether the defendant can be held legally or even criminally responsible."
The trial was also disrupted by loud protests from the bereaved families. Especially when Mayor Park and other defendants appeared, the audience shouted "liar" and "murderer." Mayor Park bowed his head and said, "Even now, recalling the scene of that day fills me with a heavy heart and tears I cannot hold back." He added, "I will live repenting for the sins I have committed throughout my life."
Mayor Park and others were indicted in January last year on charges including professional negligence resulting in death and injury for failing to establish a safety management plan and properly operate the permanent disaster safety situation room despite being able to foresee casualties due to the large crowds on the day of the disaster. The sentencing date for them is scheduled for September 30.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
