On December 12, the long-awaited hearing of the special investigation committee into the Itaewon tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of 159 individuals, began after over three years of suffering for the victims' families. This marked a critical moment to hold accountable those responsible for the national government's failure to respond adequately. However, former President Yoon Suk-yeol refused to attend, and former Seoul police chief Kim Kwang-ho declined to take an oath, demonstrating a stark disregard for the public's yearning for truth and accountability.

During the hearing, Song Hae-jin, a representative of the victims' families, appealed for honesty about what actions were taken or neglected. Despite legal accommodations made by the courts, former President Yoon cited 'trial preparations' as his excuse for not showing up. Meanwhile, Kim Kwang-ho’s choice to forgo his oath placed him at risk of being reported by the investigation committee. It became evident that those accountable in the government were hiding behind personal defense rights, further hurting the already grieving families.

The hearing also scrutinized the police's inaction despite 11 urgent emergency calls made right before the disaster. Various police entities shifted blame to one another rather than take responsibility, illustrating the breakdown of the national disaster management system. Former Minister of the Interior Lee Sang-min admitted delays due to ignorance of operational protocols for the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters. The systemic inadequacies exposed at this hearing confirm that the Itaewon tragedy was a predictable result of negligence at various levels of authority, echoing the sentiments that the priorities were more about maintaining power than protecting citizens' lives.