Yi's Order for 2 Weeks... Prosecutors and Police Launch Joint Investigation Team for 'Itaewon Tragedy Truth Investigation'

[Financial News] A joint investigation team will be formed to uncover the truth of the 'Itaewon Tragedy'. It has been about 2 weeks since President Lee Jae-myung promised to form a truth investigation team after meeting with the bereaved families on the 16th.
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced on the 30th that a joint investigation team of prosecutors and police has been launched to thoroughly investigate the truth of the Itaewon tragedy and to strictly deal with secondary harm to the victims and bereaved families.
The joint team will be directly commanded by the Criminal Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, considering the seriousness of the matter. Ha Junho (Judicial Research and Training Institute, 37th class), Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, will lead the team, which will be established in the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office with a scale of about 20 members.
On October 29, 2022, a tragic accident occurred in a narrow alley in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, during a Halloween festival, where 158 people died and 312 were injured due to a large crowd.
This accident is considered a social disaster that occurred because disaster management agencies failed to properly manage and respond to disaster prevention, response, and recovery in a situation where a large crowd was expected.
Last September, a Special Investigation Committee (Special Committee) was launched to investigate the truth of the Itaewon tragedy and prevent recurrence, but the Special Committee lacked the authority to conduct a forced investigation, limiting the establishment of facts.
A representative of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "A joint investigation team of prosecutors and police with professional capabilities, based on experience in investigating social disaster cases, has been launched," and "We will promptly conduct an investigation to thoroughly uncover the truth of the entire tragedy and strictly respond to secondary harm cases against the victims and bereaved families."
Previously, President Yi promised the formation of a truth investigation team involving prosecutors and police to the bereaved families of the Itaewon tragedy during a condolence and listening event with the bereaved families of the Sewol Ferry, Itaewon, Muan Passenger Plane, and Osong Underpass disasters on the 16th.

jisseo@fnnews.com Seo Minji Reporter