Lee Sang-min, former Minister of the Interior, described the chaotic situation at the scene of the Itaewon disaster during a hearing, leading to audible reactions from the audience.
On December 12, during the first day of the special investigation committee hearing on the Itaewon tragedy, former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min testified about his observations of the scene, which sparked sighs from the audience. He mentioned arriving at the disaster scene around 12:45 AM on October 30, 2022, at a time when rescue operations for cardiac arrest victims were still ongoing but progress was significantly hindered. His remarks highlighted the confusion and chaos that characterized the operation during this crisis phase.
The hearing, held at the Bank Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul, included testimonies from representatives of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the police, and the fire department, who collectively revealed the systemic failures that exacerbated the situation. Key issues arose from an apparent lack of understanding of emergency reporting protocols within the Ministry, leading to significant delays in relaying information to Minister Lee. Some ministry officials admitted to being unaware of local regulations that would have mandated a different level of response given the ongoing situation, indicating a stark lack of preparedness in handling large-scale emergencies.
Additionally, police officials participated in a blame-shifting exercise regarding their inaction in the face of multiple emergency calls leading up to the disaster. A representative from the Itaewon police precinct argued that the onus of action lay with the Seoul police headquarters, while another official stressed the necessity of firsthand reports from the scene to justify deployment decisions. This dynamic illustrates not only a systemic failure among the emergency services but also raises questions about accountability and the protocols in place for managing public safety during critical events like the Itaewon tragedy.
