Rival parties agree to conduct parliamentary probe into Itaewon tragedy

Rival parties agreed, Wednesday, to hold a parliamentary investigation into the Oct. 29 tragedy that killed at least 158 Halloween partygoers in Seoul’s Itaewon area.

The floor leaders of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) announced the agreement to kick off a 45-day investigation, today, and conduct hearings and other investigative activities after the National Assembly passes the national budget for next year.

The agreement came hours after the PPP had decided to conditionally participate in the probe if the Assembly passes the national budget first. Previously, the ruling party opposed the probe, claiming that it could hamper ongoing investigations and agree to a probe only if the police investigation was deemed insufficient.

The PPP decision came days after the DPK and two minor parties — the Justice Party and the Basic Income Party — submitted a blueprint for a parliamentary investigation into the disaster, Monday, to conduct a 60-day probe.

Under the agreement, an 18-member special committee will be comprised of nine members from the DP, seven from the PPP and two from minor parties and it will be headed by the DPK.

Government agencies subject to the investigation include the presidential office, national crisis center, the prime minister’s office and the interior and health ministries, as well as the Supreme Prosecutors Office, the police and the fire agency. The investigation can be extended upon agreement.

While calling for determining the cause of the incident and whether necessary measures were taken by relevant government institutions, the opposition parties have accused the government of bungling the response despite prior warnings that safety accidents could happen, as massive crowds were expected to converge in the nightlife district for the first Halloween celebrations without outdoor mask mandates in three years.

The agreement also came after the bereaved families of some Itaewon crowd crush victims held a news conference Tuesday, calling for the punishment of those responsible for the tragic accident, the first of its kind by victims’ families.

The families made a six-point proposal, which includes a sincere apology, a thorough investigation into those responsible and the prevention of secondary harm.

They also asked the government to ensure communication and humanitarian measures for the families of the disaster victims, and take proactive measures for remembrance of the victims.

The PPP leadership also met with some of the victims’ mourning families Monday.