The Korean government has pledged a major reform of police administration and the overall national safety system following the Itaewon Halloween tragedy. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Thursday the reform plans would be released next month. "We will work on a pangovernmental disaster safety management system, major reform of police and crowd management measures by next month," Han said at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. Han’s pledge co

Social Affairs Nov. 10, 2022

The special investigation division looking into the causes behind the recent Itaewon tragedy has narrowed its sights on top police figures, after President Yoon Suk-yeol slammed police leadership for their insufficient response on Monday. A special investigation team set up by the National Police Agency searched 55 sites related to the Itaewon disaster Tuesday, including the offices of Yoon Hee-keun, chief of the National Police Agency, Kim Kwang-ho, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Agency, and L

Social Affairs Nov. 8, 2022

Regarding the Itaewon disaster on Oct. 29, the special investigation police division has now pinpointed six figures as suspects, including Lee Im-jae, former chief of the Yongsan Police Station, and Ryu Mi-jin from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, for alleged professional negligence resulting in death.   The special investigation division, launched last week, has been looking into the causes behind the incident and the response of authorities. "We have probed 154 people and broug

Social Affairs Nov. 7, 2022

The whereabouts of top figures among the police and the administration’s chain of command are being pointed out as the reasons for what exacerbated the disaster in Itaewon, which took the lives of at least 156 people. The police have been operating a special investigation division to uncover the cause of the Oct. 29 tragedy. "We have completed an investigation of 85 people, including 67 witnesses and victims, 14 employees at nearby businesses and four police officers dispatched to th

Social Affairs Nov. 4, 2022

Another senior police officer has been dismissed from her position as authorities investigate the response to the crowd disaster in Itaewon, Seoul, on Saturday that left at least 156 people dead. On Thursday, the police dismissed Senior Superintendent Ryu Mi-jin, who was in charge of monitoring the situation in Itaewon, for not taking special action despite the 11 calls made to police hours before the incident. The police agency revealed Tuesday it had received 11 calls starting from aroun

Social Affairs Nov. 3, 2022

The main opposition on Wednesday stepped up pressure on the government over the Itaewon tragedy, accusing concerned organizations of attempting to cover up details of the incident. “Downplaying, covering up, manipulating the situation in an attempt to reduce accountability cannot be forgiven,” Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung said at the party’s supreme council meeting Wednesday. “High-level government officials’ attitudes are in no way taking

Social Affairs Nov. 2, 2022

The police are speeding up their investigation into the authorities’ part in the Itaewon disaster, while criticisms of its response to the incident rises. Following the release of 11 phone transcripts to the police, which were made hours before the incident took place on Saturday, the police have faced increasing criticism from the public and political circles, as well as pressure from the government. Yongsan Police Station Chief Lee Im-jae has been put on a standby order, the first figu

Social Affairs Nov. 2, 2022

The deadly crowd crush in Itaewon has plunged the public into grief and concern, as the tragedy took place in a popular area in the heart of Seoul. Many in their 20s and 30s -- the age group with the largest number of casualties -- are gripped by the feeling that they could have been in that situation. As of Tuesday morning, there were 156 casualties. “I was going to go a party in Itaewon that night. I didn’t go because of other last-minute plans, but that could have happened to me,

Social Affairs Nov. 1, 2022

Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin on Monday said that the government is reviewing ways to provide foreign nationals killed or injured in the Halloween disaster with the same support as Korean nationals. “(The ministry) is reviewing ways to allow support the same as (measures provided to) Korean nationals to the foreigners injured and killed,” Park said at the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee meeting. According to Park, the government will see if

Social Affairs Oct. 31, 2022

Photographs and video footage of the Itaewon disaster have circulated online via social media, fanning concerns of further damage to the victims as well as possible trauma for the public. Soon after the crowd surge at Itaewon began claiming the lives of people late Saturday, photographs and video footage of the incident went viral on social media, especially as a large number of victims and observers at the scene were in the target demographics for heavy social media users. The online circulati

Social Affairs Oct. 31, 2022

With the nation in shock with the overnight tragedy from the crowd surge at Halloween festivities in Itaewon, questions surfaced about the lack of safety control and crowd management over the event. The tragedy happened as a large number of people were packed at a narrow alley that connects Exit 1 of Itaewon Station with the World Food Street -- a street filled with clubs and bars -- behind the Hamilton Hotel. Witnesses observed people pushing each other as they tried to go up or down the crowd

Social Affairs Oct. 30, 2022

In the hours following the news of a massive  crowd crush amid Halloween celebrations in Itaewon, central Seoul, overnight, world leaders expressed their condolences to South Korea and its people. The US government said it stands with Korea as it mourns the tragedy. "Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in Seoul. We grieve with the people of the Republic of Korea and send our best wishes for a quick recovery to all those who were injured,&qu

Social Affairs Oct. 30, 2022

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister nominee Lee Ju-ho will be challenged over inappropriate funding, past education policies and more at a confirmation hearing slated for Friday. In addition to the allegations, an ongoing investigation concerning key figures in the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, which has brought the parliamentary audit process to a halt, appears likely to affect the confirmation hearing process. If Lee takes the post, he will be returning to the post afte

Social Affairs Oct. 24, 2022

Police concluded footage that allegedly proved Lee Jun-seok received sexual favors never existed, thus proving Lee did not destroy it to clear his name. Lee, the former chairman of the ruling People Power Party, has been accused of receiving sexual favors paid for by Kim Sung-jin, CEO of tech company I-kaist. In December, YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, run by conservative-leaning lawyer Kang Yong-suk, claimed Kim arranged sexual services for Lee in 2013 in exchange for help in meeting fo

Politics Oct. 20, 2022

The heads of Kookmin University and Sookmyung Women’s University will attend a National Assembly audit on Friday over controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon-hee. After missing out on an audit held earlier this month, citing overseas business trips, Lim Hong-jae and Jang Yoon-geum, the heads of Kookmin University and Sookmyung Women’s University, respectively, will attend the parliamentary audit to address allegations of plagiarism and false career history concerning the first

Social Affairs Oct. 19, 2022