South Korean President Yoon vetoes new investigation into Itaewon crowd crush
Victims’ associations and families had asked Yoon Suk Yeol not to reject the bill that would reopen the case, and lead to further investigations to find the main cause of the crowd crush that killed 158 people and injured almost 200 in Seoul on Halloween evening in 2022.
Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday vetoed a special bill that included a new investigation into the crowd crush of 29 October 2022 that left at least 158 people dead during Halloween celebrations in Seoul’s Itaewon neighbourhood, with another 196 injured.
President Yoon exercised his veto power by supporting a motion approved by cabinet calling on the National Assembly to reconsider the bill the opposition Democratic Party (DP) had passed through the legislature earlier this month.
The matter now returns to the assembly, which had called for a special investigative committee to re-examine the causes of the deadly crush in the narrow alley in Itaewon, central Seoul.
In explaining the rejection, Prime Minister Han Duck-so said that the law would give the Special Commission of Inquiry too much power that could potentially undermine constitutional principles and that fairness and neutrality could not be guaranteed in forming the commission, hence, the presidential veto.
According to the bill, an 11-member committee would be made up of four members recommended by the ruling party and four by the opposition party, plus three recommended by the speaker of parliament in cooperation with the victims’ families.
“There is considerable concern that fairness and neutrality may be compromised in the process," Prime Minister Han said in response to the requests by the victims and their families.
He assured the latter that the government would strengthen both financial and mental support, including coverage of medical expenses and attendance allowances.
The government also promised to expedite compensation for victims' families, regardless of the outcome of ongoing civil and criminal trials.
Victims’ associations and families had urged President Yoon not to reject the bill, calling for further investigations to find out the root cause of the accident.
“The exercise of veto power without justification is turning the Republic of Korea into a country without accountability for disasters, without apologies and without efforts for truth-seeking," said Representative Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the opposition Democratic Party, during a party meeting.
The latest veto represents the fifth time President Yoon exercised it since he took office, with a total of nine bills rejected.
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