What's happened
On October 1, 2024, a Seoul court convicted Lee Im-jae, the former chief of the Yongsan police station, and two other officers for professional negligence related to the Itaewon crowd crush that occurred during Halloween celebrations in 2022. The incident resulted in numerous fatalities and has been labeled a man-made disaster.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the court deemed the Itaewon tragedy a 'man-made disaster,' emphasizing the negligence of police officials in preparing for the event. The Guardian noted that no top-level officials have been charged, leading to criticism from bereaved families. The New York Times highlighted the public's anger over the acquittal of Park Hee-young, the head of the Yongsan ward office, suggesting a lack of accountability at higher levels of government. The South China Morning Post reiterated that the convictions are the first related to the disaster, indicating a potential shift in how such incidents are handled legally.
How we got here
The Itaewon crowd crush on October 29, 2022, resulted in the deaths of over 150 people during Halloween festivities. Investigations revealed failures in crowd control and emergency response by police and local officials, leading to widespread public outcry for accountability.
More on these topics
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Itaewon is multi-cultural commercial area located in Seoul, South Korea. it is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Seoul, known for its nightlife and trendy restaurants.
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Park Hee-young is a South Korean professional golfer currently playing on the LPGA Tour.
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South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea.
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Seoul, officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. Seoul has a population of 9.7 million people, and forms the heart of the Seoul Capital Area with the surrounding Incheon metropolis and Gyeonggi province.