S. Korea’s Yoon Blocks New Probe into 2022 Halloween Crowd Crush, Reports Reuters

By Hyunsu Yim

SEOUL – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has rejected a bill aimed at initiating a new investigation into the tragic Halloween crowd crush that resulted in the deaths of 159 individuals in Seoul’s Itaewon district in 2022. This decision has drawn strong criticism from opposition members and the families of the victims.

In a statement, Yoon’s office announced the veto of the independent panel aimed at probing the incident shortly after the Prime Minister labeled the opposition-backed bill as politicized and potentially unconstitutional. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo emphasized during a cabinet meeting that the tragedy should not be exploited for political gain, asserting that prior investigations conducted by police and prosecutors were not flawed.

The decision to block the investigation has faced backlash, particularly from victims’ relatives and opposition party officials, who have long claimed that the government’s response to the disaster has been insufficient. Park Young-soo, a mother who lost her son in the tragedy, described the government’s actions as "petty" for prioritizing financial compensation over a thorough inquiry. "That’s not what we have been fighting for more than a year for," she stated.

Another grieving mother, Song Hae-jin, expressed concern that families seeking justice for their loved ones would struggle to accept the government’s stance.

Last year, the United Nations Human Rights Committee urged South Korea to establish an independent and impartial body to investigate the disaster and hold accountable those responsible, including high-ranking officials. Additionally, Song Doo-hwan, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, has also advocated for an independent examination of the events surrounding the tragedy.

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party, criticized the Yoon administration as "cold-blooded" for obstructing the proposed investigation. A police inquiry released earlier indicated that inadequate preparations and responses were key factors contributing to the deadly incident. Nevertheless, no senior officials, including the interior and safety minister, have resigned or been dismissed in connection with the tragedy. Recently, prosecutors indicted the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for negligence linked to the disaster.

The proposed bill included a provision for a panel featuring appointees from the ruling party, the opposition, and relevant organizations to oversee the investigation. While the bill was supported by opposition parties, it faced criticism from the ruling People Power Party (PPP), which contended that the panel would be biased towards the opposition.

Yoon narrowly won the presidential election in 2022, but his party, the PPP, holds a minority in the National Assembly, which is dominated by the opposing Democratic Party. The next general election is scheduled for April.