Prosecution Clears Former Lawmaker Hyunyoung Shin of Charges in 'Itaewon Disaster Doctor Car Controversy'

The prosecution has cleared Hyunyoung Shin, former member of the Democratic Party of Korea, of allegations that she delayed emergency operations by boarding a doctor car during the October 29 Itaewon disaster.

Shin Hyunyoung, former member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Yonhap News.

According to the legal community on March 7, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office recently decided not to indict former lawmaker Shin regarding the alleged violation of the Emergency Medical Services Act.

Shin, who is a physician by training, arrived at the scene in the early morning of October 30, 2022, riding in a doctor car belonging to the Myongji Hospital Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) right after the Itaewon disaster. At the time, criticisms were raised that the arrival of the doctor car at the scene was delayed due to Shin's use of the vehicle.

Subsequently, the Civil Livelihood Countermeasures Committee, a civic group, filed a complaint against Shin with the police, and in May 2023, the police referred the case to the prosecution.

Meanwhile, as the controversy grew, Shin resigned from her position as a member of the Special Parliamentary Committee for the National Investigation into the Itaewon disaster in December 2022.

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