"The Itaewon Tragedy Was 'Fabricated': The Fate of a Man in His 60s Who Posted Conspiracy Theories 700 Times"

First Arrest Since the Launch of the Second Harm Crime Investigation Division of the National Police Agency

A man in his 60s has been arrested for repeatedly distributing posts mocking and spreading false claims related to the Itaewon tragedy. This marks the first arrest since the launch of the National Police Agency's Second Harm Crime Investigation Division.

In response, the families of the Itaewon tragedy victims have called for severe punishment for secondary harm crimes and emphasized the need for a dedicated investigation system for victims of major social disasters.

The National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency announced on January 4 that it had arrested a man, referred to as Mr. A, for repeatedly posting about 700 videos and messages related to the October 29 Itaewon tragedy. These posts mocked or belittled the victims and bereaved families, and included false claims such as "fabrication/hoax," "drug terror," and "the bodies are real dolls."

On October 27, 2023, ahead of the first anniversary of the October 29 Itaewon tragedy, citizens are commemorating the victims at the "October 29 Memory and Safety Road" established at the disaster site in Yongsan District, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Previously, on September 25 of last year, the families of the Itaewon tragedy victims filed a police complaint for defamation and insult regarding 119 online posts that insulted the victims or spread conspiracy theories and slander about the tragedy.

The Second Harm Crime Investigation Division identified Mr. A by tracing the posting routes and activity history using various analytical techniques. During the investigation, it was also discovered that Mr. A attempted to gain financial profit by posting manipulated and edited videos on overseas video platforms and major domestic communities while exposing donation account information.

The police applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A, citing the seriousness of the case, concerns about destruction of evidence, and the risk of repeat offenses. The court issued the warrant on January 2. This is the first arrest since the operation of the Second Harm Crime Investigation Division began.

Regarding Mr. A's arrest, the October 29 Itaewon Tragedy Bereaved Families Association issued a statement, saying, "This clearly confirms that secondary harm, which has been neglected under the guise of freedom of expression or opinion, is a serious crime that directly infringes on the victims' right to life and honor."

On the afternoon of February 29, 2025, wiping tears at Gwanaksan Eutteum Park in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. May 29, 2025 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The association added, "(Secondary harm) undermines our collective responsibility and solidarity to remember the tragedy and to prevent its recurrence," and called for "the strict application of a zero-tolerance policy against secondary harm crimes targeting disaster victims and for further strengthening of the dedicated investigation system."

Earlier, the police reiterated their commitment to a zero-tolerance policy for secondary harm crimes, noting that malicious comments and mocking behavior targeting the families and victims of major social disasters have even led to cases of suicide.

The Second Harm Crime Investigation Division has received a total of 154 cases over the past six months, of which 20 have been referred to the prosecution. In addition to investigations, the division is also responsible for responding to reports from bereaved families and supplementing policies and laws.

Recently, ahead of the first anniversary of the December 29 Jeju Air passenger plane tragedy, the division began investigating eight cases and requested the deletion and blocking of secondary harm posts.