President Lee to form joint prosecutor-police probe team for Itaewon Disaster victims' families

President Lee Jae-myung speaks at a meeting of the bereaved families of the social disaster, ‘Conversation of Memory, Comfort, and Healing’ held at the presidential guesthouse on July16. / Photo provided by the presidential office

President Lee Jae-myung met with the bereaved families of the victims of the Itaewon tragedy and said, “I will organize an investigation team to look into the Itaewon incident involving the police and prosecutors and investigate it together with the Itaewon Special Investigation Committee.” Lee instructed the police to establish a permanent task force to investigate secondary harm to the families of the victims of the tragedy.

President Lee held a meeting with 200 bereaved families of social disasters at the Cheong Wa Dae Guest House on July 16 and said, "The truth of the incident itself was not visible for various reasons regarding the Itaewon disaster," Kang Yoo-jung, a spokesperson for the presidential office, said on the 17th.

“The special committee only investigates but does not have the investigative power, which is frustrating for the bereaved families,” Lee said, adding, “If necessary, it should have the power to force an investigation.” The suggestion was to devise a system that would give the police and prosecutors investigative powers in addition to the special investigationcommittee, Kang said. “I understand that the Office of the Chief of Civil Affairs and the police are reviewing the proposal,” Kang said, adding that a concrete proposal will come out after the review.

Lee has instructed relevant ministries to actively consider allowing foreign bereaved families to attend a memorial event for the third anniversary of the Itaewon disaster in October. He also said he would consider providing long-term support for psychological trauma treatment for the bereaved families of the Sewol ferry disaster.

In response to a request from the bereaved families of the Osong underpass disaster to hold a parliamentary inquiry, Lee responded, “It is meaningful and necessary to discuss the Osong disaster in a public forum with the public,” adding, "However, there are aspects that are not easy due todisapproval from the opposition party. I will take it into consideration." President Lee pointed out that there is no ministry in charge of the Osong disaster and designated the Ministry of the Interior and Safety as the lead ministry.

President Lee told the bereaved family of the Jeju Air plane disaster which happened on December 29, "The new government is trying to do its best to prevent the loss of lives of the people due to unfortunate accidents." "Since this case has no reason to be politically distorted, let's wait and see the results of the investigation first." President Lee also asked lawmakers in the district to "listen to the stories of the bereaved families and come up with countermeasures with the ministries in charge."

“Strict sanctions are needed for the issue of secondary victimization of bereaved families,” Lee said, and instructed acting National Police Agency (NPA) chief Yoo Jae-sung to “create a permanent dedicated investigation organization.” He reportedly made the directive in particular in reference to the secondary victimization of the Sewol ferry disaster victims in the past.

“I apologize on behalf of the government for failing to fulfill the government's responsibility to protect the lives and safety of the people,” Lee said at the meeting, bowing his head in apology.

※This article was translated by an AI tool and edited by a professional translator.