Manipulation of Arrival Time in Itaewon Disaster... Former Yongsan District Health Center Director Receives Suspended Sentence

[Financial News] Choi Jaewon (60), former director of Yongsan District Health Center, was convicted for charges of falsely recording the arrival time at the scene during the Itaewon disaster.
The Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Park Ji-won) sentenced former director Choi, who was indicted on charges of falsifying and using official electronic records, to 10 months in prison with a 2-year suspended sentence and ordered 160 hours of community service on the 19th.
Former director Choi was brought to trial in March 2023 on charges of instructing staff to record his arrival time at the Itaewon disaster scene as 11:30 PM, about 30 minutes earlier than the actual time, in five reports.
Previously, in November last year, the prosecution had demanded a 2-year prison sentence for former director Choi.
The court stated, "The electronic records related to the severe disaster were falsely created," and "the victims and families are pleading for severe punishment."
However, the court found that in one of the five reports, former director Choi did not instruct the false recording of the arrival time, thus ruling partially not guilty.
The court explained, "It is difficult to conclude that the defendant actively recorded false facts directly, and it considered the state of reduced judgment ability due to shock and fatigue immediately after the disaster." Additionally, it considered favorable circumstances such as ▲ the long service of former director Choi at the health center and receiving a commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare ▲ the time difference between the actual arrival and the false record being only 36 minutes ▲ the fact that the false record was soon revealed, preventing the social risk of the crime from materializing.
Immediately after the sentencing, the Itaewon Disaster Citizens' Countermeasure Meeting commented, "This ruling is a meaningful case that acknowledges the criminal responsibility for the concealment and reduction acts of public officials after the disaster."

425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seunghan Reporter