Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families File Criminal Complaint Against Special Investigation Committee Leadership Over Withheld CCTV Footage

Bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster have filed a criminal complaint with the prosecution against the leadership of the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Special Investigation Committee.

Four bereaved family members filed a complaint with the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office today (the 11th) against Chairperson Song Doo-hwan and Secretary General Park Jin on charges of abuse of authority, stating that the committee repeatedly refused demands to disclose CCTV footage from the time of the disaster.

The bereaved families argued that even though the Special Act on the Itaewon Disaster guarantees victims' rights to inspect records, the committee repeatedly withheld CCTV footage under the pretext of protecting personal information, thereby infringing upon victims' rights.

In particular, they criticized that failing to fulfill the obligation to disclose even a portion of the CCTV footage under the excuse of administrative staff shortages or technical limitations restricts the victims' rights guaranteed by the Special Act and blocks opportunities to uncover the truth of the disaster and provide remedy for victims.

The bereaved families also filed a complaint together against Yongsan District Mayor Kim Kyung-dae, claiming that it was unjustified to decide against disclosing the CCTV footage from the Yongsan District Office control center on the day of the disaster under the reason that it widely contained numerous identifiable images.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
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