South Korea: New investigation into deadly mass panic in 2022

South Korea: New investigation into deadly mass panic in 2022

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has ordered the creation of a new investigation team including police and prosecutors to investigate the deadly crowd that left 159 people, mostly young people, dead during the 2022 Halloween celebrations in Seoul. A spokesman announced this on Thursday.

New investigations after the tragedy

Lee's decision to launch a new investigation follows a meeting with the families of victims of several recent disasters, including the Itaewon district disaster. According to its spokesman Kang Yu-jung, this initiative was announced during a briefing.

Promise for more security

President Lee, who took office in June, has pledged to make the country safer and prevent a repeat of the tragedies of recent years, which are often blamed on inadequate responses by authorities. The new investigative order will work in parallel with a special commission set up in September last year to investigate the case, the spokesman said.

Accusations of information suppression

At the meeting with Lee, Song Hae-jin, a representative of the victims' relatives, said important police documents and information about the government's response to the disaster had been withheld by the task force. These allegations raise serious questions about transparency and accountability on the part of authorities.

President's apology

During the meeting with mourners, Lee bowed his head and apologized for any failings on the part of the authorities. "As head of state, I would like to formally apologize on behalf of the government for failing in our responsibility to protect people's lives and safety and for so many people losing their lives as a result," he said as some relatives cried.

This new initiative and the President's apology are steps aimed at preventing future tragedies and restoring trust in government.