SEOUL: South Korea’s parliament on Thursday accredited particular laws mandating a brand new, unbiased investigation into the 2022 Halloween crush in Seoul that killed 159 folks. The only-chamber Nationwide Meeting handed the invoice by a 256-0 vote. It would change into regulation after it’s signed by conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol and promulgated by his authorities company – steps which can be thought-about formalities as a result of the president and his ruling celebration already agreed on the laws.
The invoice is supposed to delve into the foundation explanation for the crush, and have a look at how authorities dealt with the catastrophe and who ought to be blamed for it. It envisages the creation of a fact-finding committee with 9 members that might independently look at the catastrophe for as much as 15 months.
As soon as the committee determines who’s accountable and who ought to face expenses, it could report them to the federal government’s investigation businesses. The businesses would then be required to conclude investigations of the suspects inside three months, in line with the invoice.
The crush, one of many greatest peacetime disasters in South Korea, prompted a nationwide outpouring of grief. The victims, who have been principally of their 20s and 30s, had gathered in Seoul’s standard nightlife district of Itaewon for Halloween celebrations.
Within the aftermath of the tragedy, there was additionally anger that the federal government had once more ignored security and regulatory points regardless of the teachings discovered for the reason that 2014 sinking of the ferry Sewol, which killed 304 folks – principally youngsters on a college journey.
In early 2023, a police particular investigation concluded that police and municipal officers didn’t formulate efficient crowd management steps, regardless of appropriately anticipating an enormous variety of folks in Itaewon.
On the time, investigators mentioned police had additionally ignored hotline calls by pedestrians who warned of swelling crowds earlier than the surge turned lethal.
Greater than 20 police and different officers have been on trial over the catastrophe however few top-level officers have been charged or held accountable, prompting bereaved households and opposition lawmakers to name for an unbiased probe.
Forward of the vote, Kim Kyo-heung from the principle liberal opposition Democratic Get together and chairman of parliament’s security committee expressed hope the probe would decide accountability for the catastrophe and structural issues behind the crush, in addition to formulate steps to forestall comparable disasters.
Households of the victims welcomed the invoice whereas rallying exterior the Nationwide Meeting.
“I feel right now is certainly probably the most memorable day for our bereaved households,” mentioned Lee Jeong-min, a consultant for the households. “It wasn’t attainable with out the help of opposition lawmakers and many voters who’ve sympathised with us. I might wish to say we actually thank them.”
President Yoon had beforehand opposed a brand new investigation of the catastrophe. In January, he vetoed an analogous invoice for an unbiased investigation of the Itaewon crush that had handed by means of parliament.
Nonetheless, throughout a gathering with Democratic Get together chief Lee Jae-myung Monday, he mentioned he would not oppose it, ought to some current disputes be resolved, corresponding to whether or not the fact-finding committee can request arrest warrants.
A shift in Yoon’s place got here as he faces rising public calls to cooperate with Lee’s celebration, which scored an enormous win within the April 10 parliamentary election, extending its management of parliament for one more 4 years.
In a gathering with Yoon’s ruling Folks Energy Get together on Wednesday, Lee’s celebration agreed to take away contentious clauses from the draft invoice.
The Democratic Get together’s chief policymaker, Jin Sung-joon, mentioned the celebration had accepted calls for by the president and his ruling celebration within the curiosity of the “bereaved households, who mentioned they cannot wait any longer”.
The invoice is supposed to delve into the foundation explanation for the crush, and have a look at how authorities dealt with the catastrophe and who ought to be blamed for it. It envisages the creation of a fact-finding committee with 9 members that might independently look at the catastrophe for as much as 15 months.
As soon as the committee determines who’s accountable and who ought to face expenses, it could report them to the federal government’s investigation businesses. The businesses would then be required to conclude investigations of the suspects inside three months, in line with the invoice.
The crush, one of many greatest peacetime disasters in South Korea, prompted a nationwide outpouring of grief. The victims, who have been principally of their 20s and 30s, had gathered in Seoul’s standard nightlife district of Itaewon for Halloween celebrations.
Within the aftermath of the tragedy, there was additionally anger that the federal government had once more ignored security and regulatory points regardless of the teachings discovered for the reason that 2014 sinking of the ferry Sewol, which killed 304 folks – principally youngsters on a college journey.
In early 2023, a police particular investigation concluded that police and municipal officers didn’t formulate efficient crowd management steps, regardless of appropriately anticipating an enormous variety of folks in Itaewon.
On the time, investigators mentioned police had additionally ignored hotline calls by pedestrians who warned of swelling crowds earlier than the surge turned lethal.
Greater than 20 police and different officers have been on trial over the catastrophe however few top-level officers have been charged or held accountable, prompting bereaved households and opposition lawmakers to name for an unbiased probe.
Forward of the vote, Kim Kyo-heung from the principle liberal opposition Democratic Get together and chairman of parliament’s security committee expressed hope the probe would decide accountability for the catastrophe and structural issues behind the crush, in addition to formulate steps to forestall comparable disasters.
Households of the victims welcomed the invoice whereas rallying exterior the Nationwide Meeting.
“I feel right now is certainly probably the most memorable day for our bereaved households,” mentioned Lee Jeong-min, a consultant for the households. “It wasn’t attainable with out the help of opposition lawmakers and many voters who’ve sympathised with us. I might wish to say we actually thank them.”
President Yoon had beforehand opposed a brand new investigation of the catastrophe. In January, he vetoed an analogous invoice for an unbiased investigation of the Itaewon crush that had handed by means of parliament.
Nonetheless, throughout a gathering with Democratic Get together chief Lee Jae-myung Monday, he mentioned he would not oppose it, ought to some current disputes be resolved, corresponding to whether or not the fact-finding committee can request arrest warrants.
A shift in Yoon’s place got here as he faces rising public calls to cooperate with Lee’s celebration, which scored an enormous win within the April 10 parliamentary election, extending its management of parliament for one more 4 years.
In a gathering with Yoon’s ruling Folks Energy Get together on Wednesday, Lee’s celebration agreed to take away contentious clauses from the draft invoice.
The Democratic Get together’s chief policymaker, Jin Sung-joon, mentioned the celebration had accepted calls for by the president and his ruling celebration within the curiosity of the “bereaved households, who mentioned they cannot wait any longer”.
